CHANGE WANTED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 200, 24 August 1937, Page 10

CHANGE WANTED.

WEEKLY WAGE PAYMENTS. HOURLY RATE IN-SECURE. The suggestion that wages for skilled, eemi-skilled and unskilled labour in Xew Zealand should be on a weekly basis rather than hourly was made in the Arbitration Court yesterday by Mr. James Roberts, chief advocate of the workers, when the fixation of a standard rate for these workers was considered by the Court. "It is not necessary for me to point out that during wet weather the worker and bis dependents will require as much food, clothing and shelter as in fine weather, and that whether it is wet or fine, the landlord- will call round for the rent," Mr. Roberts said. "The payment of an hourly wage gives little economic security to the worker," he continued, "and r would ask the Court to make a departure on this occasion and grant a weekly wage payment to all workers engaged in Industry. The worker is entitled to an assured income each week." It was, of course, impossible for the Court to grant a weekly wage in all industries, for same were very casual; ■but where that was the case/or where the worker lost time through wet weather conditions, it was only bare economic justice, that hourly rates of pay should be increased substantially. To this plea was added that of Mr. F. D. Cornwell, who appeared with Mr. Roberts for the workers. Mr. Cornwell said that hourly payment was one of the reason* for the shortage of skilled la'bour. He referred the Court to the awards in Australia, where payments were baeed on a weekly with holiday payment for broken time, and he submitted that if it could be done in any other country it could be done in Xew Zealand.