AWARD RATES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19854, 15 February 1930, Page 14

AWARD RATES.

METHODS OF ARBITRATION COURT.

STATEMENT BY MR JUSTICE FRAZER. LTHE PHESB Special Service.] AUCKLAND, February 14. "The Arbitration Court is regarded as the keeper of New Zealand's national conscience of industrial conditions and rates of pay for the Dominion," said Mr Justice Frazer this morning in an interesting outline of the principles on which the Court operated. The homily was prompted by some doubt in the minds of the parties to the application for an award • for wholesale ironmongery ind hardware assistants by the Auckland Storerncn s and Pjickors' XJmon concerning the basis on which the Court fixed wages and conditions of work in the various trades and industries coming under its jurisdiction. The Judge pointed out that the Court was empowered to fix the rn'lll- - rates of wages which should apply to workers who were just efficient, just competent and no more. It was left to the employer, as he thought fit, to adjust the standard of pay for employees whose ability and qualifications were higher. " Tn Australia, for instance, said his Honour, fbere was a tendency to fix wages on a minimum basis, irrespective of the merits of individual workers, and some rears ago New Zealand Unions held the opinion that because sor.-e employees were paid on 1 higher scale than others, this standard should he generally accented as the minimum rate of waws throughout a particular industry. This attitude, however, had gradually disappearing in this Dominion, the Judge said. It was recognised that there was a tendency to bring rates of pav down to a minimum, and the Court ad.ius+ed on this basis, having regard to the cost of living ruling at that particular time, the economic conditions cf the country, and ths position of the industry in which the award was sought. "Tt is recognised at. the present time that all trades and indristries are e.rneriencinfT slael- and lean times,'' the Judge said "This situation occurred previously, and we got out of i 4. Tt will happen again, and we wTll overcome it again." One of the underlying] principles of the Court's operation* was to fix a standard of wages. tal<in<r into consideration the condition of the . industry during times of depression I so that wages would not hear heavilr on the average employer and .vet'permit him to nay more to men exceeding I average ability.