A WEEKLY BASIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 224, 22 September 1938, Page 24

A WEEKLY BASIS.

CARPENTERS' WAGES. WORKERS' CONTENTIONS. (By Tt-lppraph.—T*ress Association.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The method of paying wages on an hourly basii* instead of a weekly one was blamed in Conciliation Council to-day by the workers' assessors as one of the reasons for a shortage of tradesmen in the Dominion.

The case was that of the Carpenters and Joiners' Union, which asked for payment on a weekly basis, and also that workers employed for less than 52 weeks be classed as casual at an hourly rate of 3d higher than that paid to permanent employees.

Mr. Mountjoy, for the employers, said the employers had discussed the principle of a weekly wage earlier, and were opposed to it. Builders could not make provision in their tenders for payment lor time lost through wet weather. The Arbitration Court, in fixing skilled rates, made allowance for broken time.

Mr. K. Stanley, the Auckland Workers' representative, said that hundreds of men had left the trade and taken up other work because by that step they had some measure of economic security. In one organisation in the Dominion there were 200 carpenters not now working at their trade.

Air. H. J. Bishop, representing all the employers not in the trade, said these were inclined to favour a weekly basis of payment where it was possible, without payment for lost time. They would consider a weekly wage in terms of the Arbitration Court order.

A 40-hour live day week is sought, with a wage demand of f6 a week, plus 5/ a week tool allowance. The employers offer 2/8 an hour with Jd an hour tool money.

His Worst toay's Work.

The conditions clauses proposed by the workers were discussed throughout the day without decision being reached on many.

"This is the worst day's work I have done," said the Commissioner, Mr. M. J. Keardou, when the council was about to adjourn. "Unless there is some compromise to-morrow we are only wasting our energies going further. The dispute will certainly be thrust back to conciliation later. It seems to me, with all due respect to the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters, that they are putting out some propaganda that has nothing to do with the award at all. They would be wise to revise their claims overnight."

A remark that the employers' representatives should consider overnight bringing forward a more reasonable wages claim reopened discussion on wages. The commissioner said that probably the employers should say at that stage what was the most they could give.

Several speakers on the employers' side said they would not increase wages. They had the support of their associations' members and they believed that wf ges should be increased by the Court and not by Conciliation Council. If an increase were to be given the Court would have to do it.