ARBITRATION COURT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 268, 6 August 1920, Page 8

ARBITRATION COURT

LABOURERS' DISPUTE i ——- A STRAIGHT-OUT WAGE DEMANDED The Wellington Builders' and General Labourers' dispute (25 miles radius) came before the Arbitration Court yesterday morning. Oil the Bench were Mr. Justice Stringer and the assessors,. Air. W.Scott for the employers aitd Mr. J. A. McOullough for the employees. Mr. M. J. Iteardon appeared for the union and Mr. V. A. Greufell for.the employers. . ~ In presenting his case Mr. Iteardon bald that the only material alteration sought in the award was with regard to wage*. The union made no application for a reduction in hours or an alteration in any other standard conditions. • Mr. Keardon urged that the employees lie represented should at tho very least bo given a wueo of the same purchasing power as before tlio war. Ho asked the Court to cut out tho cumbrous method of supplementing wages by bonuses and give the union a straight-out wage.' So far as his union was concerned the pre-war wage standard had not yet been reached. I Further Rise Predioted. Speaking generally, he submitted that wages must go very much higher, because we had not yet reached in this country a world parity in prices. We would have to expect higher prices and-higher wages. Therefore he asked tho Court to affirm the principle of continuing to increase wages. He combated the theory that increased prices were due 40 increased wages, and quoted the opinions of prominent ccono-, mist's in the United States to the eltect that prices continued to rise for about six years alter every war, and that it took another seven years for them to fall to their natural level. The same authorities held that there was no likelihood of present prices falling within nve years. The following rates of pay were sought: Building trades' labourers, 2s. and 2s. 3d. per hour; general labourers, tunuclmen, and tiinbermcn, 2s. 6d. per hour; quarry work, 2s. per hour; general labourers, 2s. per hour.

The Cisborno Pronouncement. Mr. Grenfell said that for all practical purposes the employers assumed the depute was settled by the. pronouncement of tho Court on tho "basic wage" at Gisborne—ls. lOd. an hour or £4 Os. Bd. a week. The labourer as such was on the lowest grado' of worker, on the base ■of which the. wages of the rest of the workers were ascertained. . The Court should keep the wage as low as reasonable, so as to provide an avenue of employment for unskilled work. For the country's sake, he hoped it would not be necessary to increase the basic wage. Indications did not point to a likelihood of a further Increase in the cost of living, and he submitted that the Court should.not depart frbjn its Uisborne decision. His Honour: Of course. It would upset the whole basis of our decisions, and the skilled worker would -seek corresponding increases. The Court reserved its decision. 810 GRAPH OPERATORS SEEK AWARD. There were no recommendations filed in case of the Wellington Biograph Operators' dispute. Mr. James M'Kenzic appeared for the employees and Mr. W. A. Grenfell for tho employers. Mr. McKcnzie' pointed out that the award under which the men were at present working expired in 1918, and but for special circumstances the union would have approached the Court beforo. Tho | men were asking that a week's work should consist of 36 hours, plus two hours distributed over certain days in the ween. Where two operators were employed it was stipulated that tho c]iief operator be paid £7 per week and the second operator £6. For sole operators a wage •of £7 was asked. Provision was also made for casual workers and' for an annual paid holiday of two weeks. Another demand was that all .work done beforo 11 a.m. and after 10,10 p.m. should bo rated as overtime and paid for at the rate of ss. per hour. There were eighteen men concerned in the dispute, which covered a three-mile radius. Mr. Grenfell asked for a renewal of the old award, subject to a revision of the wages clauses. He suggested that tho operators lie treated from tlic standpoint of the Gisborne pronouncement as semiskilled workers.

lhe wages at present ruling are as follow First operator, £4 10s.; second operator, £3; where, only one operator employed, £4. The Court reserved its decision. PERFORMING MUSICIANS' DISPUTE. .1 Court also heard the application of the Wellington Performing Musicians for an award. Mr. M. ,T. Rcardon appeared for the employees and Mr. W. A. Grcnfell for tho employers. At tlio cutset application was made to .loin the wew Zealand Natives Band and Jupp s Band to the award, Tills was onposed by Mr. Gronfell, and after hearing ovidencc both parties were struck out. Mr. lteardon Baid that since 1911 the WB.TCS of the employees had not been materially increased. In the past it had ueen impossible to get a satisfactory increase on account of the employers lookine upon the employment .as a sideline. This was manifestly unfair. The weekly rates now demanded were: £4 10s. for special work, £4 ss, in tho case of variety and vaudeville shows, £4 in the case of moving picture heatrcs, alul £6 10a. in tho case of travollinf? flhows. Mr. Grcnfell said that the employers a i°n r " rencWill °f the old award rate of £3 10s. a week. He jiointcd out that in tlio case of musicians engaged for evening' performances the hours worked did not cxcecd more than 18 per week. This hour ° Ut !lt a WaE ° 6f 3s ' 105rt - The Court reserved its decision. HOW TTIET _ DO IT. Haven't you often wondered how the movio artists keep their hair so neat and dressy? The secret is DANE'S HAIR PUCE-a non-greasy hair cream that makes the hair stay the way yon comb it. A splendid tonic too. Sold liy nil chemists and hairdressers. Price lis. fid,, or write direct to 2 Manners Street, Wellington. Dane's Hair Place makes stubborn hair easy to comh and keeps it smart and attractive. Try a bottle and bo convinced.—Advt. |