PRIVATE HOTELS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 288, 5 December 1932, Page 5

PRIVATE HOTELS.

WAGES OF WOMEN.

ARBITRATION COURT ORDER

"BASED ON ABILITY TO PAY." An order fixing the minimum rates of wages for female workers in private hotels throughout New Zealand has been made by the Arbitration Court, the workers' representative, Mr. A. L. Monteith dissenting. In a memorandum attached to the order, Mr. Justice Frazer stated that the order was made in pursuance of the provisions of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act, 1932, which directed the Court to fix the minimum ratee to be paid to female workers.

"The principal alteration in the classification of workers, as existing under the expired award, is the separation of cooks from kitchen maids," said the judge. "The rates of wage* for cooks will, in future, depend on the number of cooks employed, not on the total number of workers employed in the kitchen. It is thought that the new classification will ensure the payment of rates of wages commensurate with the amount of work and responsibility involved. The Court has provided for a lower rate of wages for the first year of experience in the ea*c of kitchen maids and members of the household staff.

Lower "Wages. "In general, the rates of wages are somewhat lower than those under the expired award. In the case of the kitchen ! staffs, the reductions have in some cases been offset to some extent by changee in classification. The Court has endeavoured to arrive at rates that can reasonably be paid by the industry, and at the same time afford a reasonable standard of living to the workers. The licensed hotels employees' award, which in the past has largely governed the ratee for private hotels, lias been disregarded, because the circumstances of tlie two classes of establishments differ very considerably. At the same time the rates now fixed compare favourably with those fixed by the current tearooms and restaurant employees' award, under which no lodgings and only partial board have to be provided for -workers."

Differential Rates. "Reverting to the scale for cooks and kitchenmaids, the expired award, and a number of awards that preceded it, fixed differential rates for male and female workers, but, owing to the arbitrary effect of cost-of-living increases and reductions, the original ratio _ between the rates was entirely lost sight of. The object of the present scale is to provide fairly for female workers according to their work and responsibility, without any regard being had to the distinctions made in the past between male and female workers."

Dissenting Opinion. "I am not in agreement with the majority in so far as a new rating has been inserted, which makes the minimum rate 17/6, whereas in the licensed hotel award made about two months ago the workers for exactly the same work will receive £1 7/9," said Mr. Monteith in a dissenting opinion attached to the order. "The new classification alters the whole basis of payment for the kitchen staff, and as a result cooks will be reduced to lower grades, and, in addition, will in many cases receive a reduction of 20 per cent in the wages payable to such lower grades. The work of waitresses, which is exactly the same as performed in the licensed hotels, will be paid 20 per cent lees."

Wages Fixed. The order fixes the wa.ges of first cooks at from £1 12/6 to £3 17/6 a week according to the number of cooks and workers employed; second cooke, from £1 15/ to £2 17/6; third cooks, £2. Kitchenmaids: First twelve months in industry, £1; thereafter, £1 10/. Waitresses, housemaid waitresses, housemaids, pantrymaide, relieving maids, linen maids: First year, 16/j thereafter, £15/; head waitresses, £1 7/6; laundresses, £1 7/6; general hands, £112/6. The foregoing rates include board and lodging. If board is not provided the wages are to be increased by 16/ a week, and if lodging is not provided wages are to be increased by 8/ a week.