WAR BONUS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 119, 13 February 1920, Page 8

WAR BONUS

INCREASES APPLIED FOR

DECISIONS RESERVED

' A featnro of yesterday's sitting of tho Arbitration Court was the number of applications from unions for an increased bonus of Id. per hour, amounting to a maximum'of is. a week in the case of senior malo workers. Tho applications were in terms of the ruling in which, on December 2, the Court stated that it would be open to unions to apply for a basic is. per week—with 2s. per»week-for-juniors and female workers —on account of the further increase in the cost of living disclosed by the Government'; Statistician's revised figures. ~r B £EWERS AND BOTTLERS. In the'case of the Wellington brewery, mnllhouse, and'bottling stores employe's application, objection was raised by Mr. Grenfell on the score that both parties to the dispute had only recently accented b new award. The employers considered that they were entitW to a reasonable respite before being subjected to further demands. His Honour remarked that the latest Information relative to the increased cost of * living was not available when the • agreement was entered into between tho parties, and it seemed not unreasonable that the men should ask for the same benefit that was being onjoved bv other unions in terms of the Court's latest ruling. The application would be considered. DRIVERS' APPLICATION. Another disputed application was that of tho Wellington Motor-car and Horse Drivers' Union. Mr. A. Parlane appeared, in snpnort of the application, ,nnd Mr. Grenfell represented the employers. Mr. Parlane said that the union desired to have the award amended so that an extra bonus of Id. an hour should w paid in terms of the CmiTt's ruling of December, and so that this extra bonus should bo extended to stablo work, which was extra to the week's work of 48 hours. The union further asked that overtime be increased by 4d. '>er hour, brinsrinc the rate u* to just a fraction under time , and a half. Mr. Grenfell, while not obiect.ing to the. first application, contended that tho Tcqnests as to stable time and overtime were out of order, as they did not come within the Court's pronouncement. After, some argument between the re- ■ presentatives of the opposing pa'tice,' His Honour intimated that the Court would look into the whole question, and pointed put at'tho same time that tho Court could not'eo beyond its jurisdiction, which limited the award of the increased 'bonus to 4s. a week. Tho rate was "based on 4s. a week, not on a penny- an hour. ■' '-' I?ETAIL~GI?OC.EPS. • The Wellington Retail Grocers' Assistants' Union, for whom Mr. R. M'Keen appeared, asked for the increased bonus of 4s. Mr. Grenfell opposed the application on behalf .of tho employers-, and submitted a counter-offer—worked out on a percentage basis—of Bs. id. a week. Decision was reserved. • - OTHER APPLICATIONS. The Napier Painters and Decorators' Union's application for an increase of 4s. was adjdurned to Napier. Other applications for the increased bonus, to all of which no objection was Taised and wihich the Court intimated would be considered, were heard as follow:— ' Wellineton timber and sawmill work ers; Wellington stationary traction and locomotive engine-drivers; Wellington retail shop assistants; Wellington metal worlcers' assistants; iron and brass moulders? workers;.Hawke's Bay carpenters and joiners. His Honour intimated that if the Court made orders gran tine the increased bonus of Id.,an bonr in the case of tho foregoing applications, it would 1 direct that/payment, bo retrospective as from January I last.