THE BONUS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 17019, 16 December 1920, Page 6

THE BONUS.

' DECISION" OF IRONMASTERS.

At a meeting of tho N.Z. Ironmasters' Association (Christchurch section), held yesterday afternoon, the position arising .out of the review of tho cost-of-living bonus, payable from November Ist, was considered.. Many of t!ho members had been paying out the 0s as from November Ist, in accordance with the request of the Arbitration Court. In view of the bonus now being reduced- to 3s, it was decided that tho overpayment should be adjusted by paying Is 4d per week, or one-third of a penny per hour, for the remainder or ti'ao six months, or as long as will oalance the over-payment. _ It was also resolved that credits be made for all extra charges involved by the 9s to customers' accounts as from November Ist. In * this connexion it was stated that one private hotel at least, which was compelled to increase its tariff as a result of the original announcement, was remitting tho amount involved to its clients. At a meeting of the Christchurch Operative Plasterers' Union held at the Trades Hall last evening, the matter of tho reduced bonus was discussed and the following resolution was passed:— "This meeting of plasterers advises all members not to accept wages on a lower scale than is being paid at present, nalnely, 2s 6Jd an hour (which includes tlio 9s bonus awarded by the Arbitration Court on November 1). We con-sider-that the cost of living (which has further burdened the workers since the Court's pronouncement in November) demands proportionate increases in wages. Otherwise we are obtaining a lowered return for our labour."