APPRENTICES, WAGES.

Auckland Star, 2 September 1933, Page 10

APPRENTICES , WAGES.

PRINTING TRADE AWARD. ANOMALIES IN LEGISLATION". Judgment was given by the Arbitration Court to-day in connection with apprentices in the printing trade. The minimum rate of wages payable to apprentices was fixed as follows: First six months, 17/; second, 19/6; third, 22/; fourth, 24/6; fifth, 27/; sixth, 28/6; seventh, 30/; eighth, 34/; ninth, 38/3; tenth, 42/6; eleventh, 46/9; twelfth six months, 55/3. The Court said that the application disclosed anomalies arising from the operation of the Apprentices Act, 1923, and the Finance Acts of 1931 and 1932.

"The position, in regard to the wages of apprentices, is that apprentices whose apprenticeships commenced on or before May 10, 1932, may have .their rates 61 wages varied by- orders made by magistrates under the Finance Act, 1932," stated the Court. "That Act does not apply to apprentices whose apprenticeships commenced after May 10, 1932, but they and apprentices apprenticed on or before that date are all subject to the 10 per cent reduction in wages authorised by the order of this Court made, under the Finance Act, 1931, on May 29, 1931. The order now made by the , Court applies to apprentices apprenticed on or after the date of this order, but does not apply in the case of apprentices whose apprenticeship commenced previously thereto. -Further, while magistrates may restore reductions made in the rates of wages of apprentices to whom section 56 of the Finance Act, 1932, .applies, no provision exists for increasing the rates of wages of apprentices .whose apprenticeships commenced after May. 10, 1932, at a 10 per cent reduction (approximately) below the 1926 rates, or of those whose apprenticeships commence on or after the date of this order, at a 15 per cent reduction (approximately) below the 1926 rates. It would appear to be desirable that these anomalies should be corrected by Parliament?'" ! '•• '' \

The judgment' concluded that "the present order is" intended to effect a reduction of approximately 15 per cent in the rates of wages fixed by the. apprenticeship order of October 18, 1926."