NEW AWARD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 206, 1 September 1938, Page 13

NEW AWARD.

FERTILISER WORKERS. APPLICATION TO COURT. WAGE RATE DISPUTED. The hearing of the application by chemical manure workers for a new award was continued in the Arbitration Lourt to-day. Mr. Justice O'Regan preyed, and with him were Messrs. W. Cecil Prime and A. L. Monteith. The appliMtioii whs made by the Otaliuhu Chemical Manure Workers' Linon, represented by Mr. W. Miller the respondents being the Challenge Ihosphate Company, Limited, Kemptnorne Prosser and Co.npanv (X ew Zealand Drug Company, Limited), and the New Zealand Farmers 1 Fertiliser t ompany, Limited. The emplovem' representative was Mr. W. K. Anderson. The Court occupied yesterday in „„; inspection of the works at Westfield. It was staled that the principal mattors in dispute were wages, annual holidays, sick Itavo and the term of the fnvard. The wages churned ranged from //•) an hour for day workers and 3/(1 per hour for men making and handling super slag. For handling super and Hilphur 3/.> iin hour «a« demanded. For various operations involving the handling of acids and acid-bearing manures, giisew and fumes, extra rates were siiuuht. J

In evidence it was stated on behalf of the applicants that much of the ivoik was of a casual nature. Some of the manufacturing processes were dangerous and nil pleasant. The fume* ca lifted roughing and injury to the eyes nliilc clothes and skin were frequently splashed by acid. In the case of basic slag the dust ras deu*e, hard and gritty, causing loss of speech and sore throats. In making Milestone the nitre funics caused vomit" injr, while the line dust from the crystals caused nose-bleeding. Butter cloths were provided, but the dust penetrated them, while when respirators were, used perspiration caused the vi.lvee to stick. After working sulphur the cve« smarted for a couple of days. Clothes rotted when they were splashed by the acid.

Mr. Anderson (to a witness): What would you call the best job in the place? —The boss'. (Laughter). A lead-burner's labourer stated that part of his duties was to assist in the repair of lead-acid tanks. The work was most disagreeable. Clothes lasted only about a fortnight and boots no longer than two months. ;" A chamberman described the operation of cleaning the sulphur burners, where the fine dust made it impossible to work for more than ten minutes at a time. When the chambers or acid towers leaked the fumes caused a suffocating effect of had a delayed action. Hβ considered that the leaking could be repaired.

(Proceeding.)