RELAXATION OF AWARD SOUGHT

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28606, 7 June 1958, Page 15

RELAXATION OF AWARD SOUGHT

Application Opposed By Printers’ Union (New Zeaiana Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 6. An application by’ distributors of imported office printing machinery to have certain types of machinery excluded from the printing trade award was adjourned in the Arbitration Court today till June 16. The hearing began yesterday. The application was opposed by the Printing and Related “Trades Union of Works on the grounds that the agents could sell the machines on the basis that any unskilled worker could be taught to operate them,

The distributors, represented by Mr G. A. Turner, claimed that machines produced before the Court, including Multilith, Varitypes and Headliner photo composing machines, were not designed for the use of commercial printers but had a special use as, regular, office equipment. Mr R. G. Freeman, for the union, contended that comparable printing, where the tools of trade operated and certain skills were performed, was the work of union members and embraced by the provisions of the award. No firms procuring the machines should have the advantages in excess of the ordinary printer, such as the employment of unskilled workers or trainees on low wages.