ARBITRATION COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 244, 12 October 1918, Page 4

ARBITRATION COURT.

CARPENTERS' WAGES. THE WAR BONUS INCREASED. The Arbitration Court hae filed ite decision in the application made by the Carpentere' Union to increase the war bonus. It has increased the bonus from 2d to 3d per hour, to take effect from October 21. In a covering memorandum the Court states that it did not feel justified in making the increase greater, for it must .be remembered that in this industry there are 'two grades of workers--highly skilled carpenters and joiners and semi-skilled workers, who are capable of doing only rougher classes of work. The Court, in fixing the minimum rate of wages, must neceeearily do so with relation to the leas-skilled workers coming within the jecope of the award. The rate now fixed J for carpenters a,nd joiners, with bonus, ■is 1/9 per hour, which is the highest rate in Australasia, the rate in Queensland being 1/SJ, in Victoria 1/S, New South Wales 1/s", and South Australia 1/7 A. PAINTERS' AWARD. It is understood that the painters' rate of wages has .liopu increased from 1/4.} per hour to l/3j per hour, with an addition of a bonus of 3d per hour. THE SOFT GOODS DISPUTE. AWARD TO BE MADE. The Arbitration Court to-day filed a lengthy judgment in the soft goods dispute. After outlining the course of the dispute the Court states that on the whole it is of opinion that an award ehould be made, and in accordance with the arrangement made at the hearing now refers the dispute 'back to the Conciliation Council for consideration on ite merite.