ARBITRATION COURT

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 52, 1 March 1916, Page 2

ARBITRATION COURT

BOARDING-HOUSE AWARD., SCALE OF* WAGES AGREED UPON. SCOPE OF AWARD XOT YET FIXED. i The' industrial dispute relating to the conditions of employees in boardinghouses and' private hotels was practically advanced a definite stage At the Arbitration Court'this morning,'but it has yet to lie decided, which boardinghouses in Auckland shall be deemed to come within the scope of- the award. His-Honor, Mr. Justice Stringer presided, and with him on the bench were Messrs. W.Scott and J. A. McCullough, -employers' and workers' representatives. It will be remembered that yesterday the Court affirmed the principle that large bpardinghouscs, and '-private hotels" should "be brought within the scope of- an industrial award under the Arbitration Act; and the uniou and the employers were advised to confer and endeavour to agree mutually upon the terms of, an award. Lancd-'Cdrporal T. Long, secretary of the Auckland Hotel arid Restaurant Employees' Union, announced when the Court assembled this morning, that, as the '.result- of a icohferencc,* '. wlticli. sat until a late hour last night, a settlement had beeiC arrived at, on the lines of the award already granted in Wellington. He regretted that, owing chiefly to lack of time, they had been unable to get all the information the Court desired as to the - accommodation of the respective establishments cited by the Union.. He explained to the Court that.there were one or two minor- alterations from "the Wellington award in the'schedule agreed upon by the parties in" Auckland. The wages of housemaids and .waitresses were fixed at £1, and of porters and general hands at £1 5/. The hours of female workers would be the same as in licensed hotels. His Honor expressed the satisfaction .of the..Court.at the amicable agreement reached betweeui.the parties. " Mr: 8. E. Wright,' for the; boardittgh.oiise,. proprietors, "explained that -they had been unable to come to any decision as to which establishments' should come under the award" and .which should not. A number of the proprietors were in attendance to give evidence. His Honor: Are there any there is no doubt about? For instance (this with a twinkle)—Cargen. Mr. Wright: We think it better, your Honor, to first eliminate those that put."-" : -'- i". -" '. '.' ' '.; ■ '' Tils Honor": We" can't tell We haven't drawn' ahy dividing.line'yfet. 1 ,".." '', Evidence was given concerning several well-known boardinghouses, ' including i Lake House Sorrento., Mona House, Fernleigh,. Ryocroft, and Frogmore. The proprietors of Cargen and Stonehurst intimated through Mr. Wright that they quite understood their establishments would be included in the award. The Court-- reserved decision, pending the receipt of-further information' which will be supplied- regarding other board inghouSes. ..The mininyuU} wages, in kitchens where five or more hands are employed will now range from £4 10/ to £1 J/G per week; with four hands, from £3 15/ to. £1 7/6; vvitli three hts_f, fronf £3 JKl°, £1 7/o ';'t w o hands, £2 10/ and ±•1 10/; and one hand. £2. Tho- minimum wage for waitresses, housemaids, or pantrymaids, will be £1 P?r.Z,!?k; menin the. pantry, will get for porters are fixed"at £1 5/ 10/ 4day-and night), and for laundresses £1 5/.