IMPROVERS' WAGES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 277, 22 November 1934, Page 15

IMPROVERS' WAGES.

CARPENTERS' AWARD

COURT GIVES RULING,

(By Telegraph.—rress Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday

In the opinion of the majority of the Arbitration Court, Mr. Justice Fruzer and Mr. W. Cecil Prime (employers' assessor), there is nothing in the New Zealand carpenters and joiners' award (except in the Marlborough district) to prevent a worker who, having completed his apprenticeship, has been paid a journeyman's wages, from being employed ,as an improver, provided such employment does not exceed an aggregate of 12 months, and docs not extend beyond two years from the date of completion of the apprenticeship. The employees' representative, Mr. A. I. Monteith, has dissented from this view.

The judgment of the Court has been given in response to an application by the inspector of awards, Christchurch, for interpretation of the award in respect of the following clause:-—'"An apprentice, having completed his apprenticeship, may be employed as an improver for not more than twelve months at a wage of 1/5 an hour. The said period of improvership may be spread over two years, commencing from the data of completion of the apprenticeship."