General Wage Increase

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 14927, 15 March 1949, Page 3

General Wage Increase

Arbitration Court

Hearing

Application By Federation

Of Labour

(P.A.) .Welington, March 14 The hearing of a claim for a general wages pronouncement, embodying an increase of sixpence an hour i'n rates for skilled, semiskilled and unskilled workers, will commence before the Court of Arbitration in Wellington tomorrow morning. It is expected to occupy at least the remainder of this week. The applicant party is the Federation of Labour, whose claim is entered in the name of the New Zealand Furniture Trades Industrial Association of Workers. The case for the federation will be presented by the secretary, Mr K. McL. Baxter. Also entered with the Court is an application from the Employers’ Federation for a pronouncement specifying standard rates of pay for male and female skilled, semiskilled and unskilled workers and for juniors. The case for the employers will be presented by the secretary of the Canterburv Employers’ Association, Mr H. F. Butland. . Following the filing of the original claim, the council of the Labour Federation decided to amend the claim to one shilling an hour, or £2 a week, provided this did not involve the delay or withdrawal of the original claim. There was considerable controversy in the trade

union movement, particularly in Auckland and Otago, about the amount to be claimed, but the federation apparently has decided to proceed with its original claim. The Crurt of Arbitration delivered i'cs last standard wages pronouncement in August, 1947. The rates then fixed, which took effect from October 1, 1947, are: Skilled 3s 7d an hour; semi-skilled, 3s 21d to 3s unskilled, 3s lid. Since the filing of the claims the JEconomic Stabilisation Emergency Regulations have been amended. The Court is now required to have regard to (1) the promotion of the economi'c stability of New Zealand, (2) any rise or fall in retail prices as indicated by any index published by the Government Statistician. (3) the economic conditions affecting finance, trade and industry in New Zealand, (4) any re’afve movements in the incomes of different sections of the community, (5) all ether cons derations which the Court deems relevant.