PROTEST AGAINST AWARD

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 183, 21 April 1923, Page 11

PROTEST AGAINST AWARD

PEACE TREATY REFERRED TO

By Telegraph.—press association. Auckland, April 18.

Strong exception is taken by tffe workers concerned to an award given tho other day in connection with the brick-making industry, in Auckland in regard to hours for kiln burners. This morning tho following telegram was dispatched to tho Minister of Labour by Messrs. Bartram, Savage, Lee. Parry, and Jordan, Al.P.’s: —“We v ish to draw your attention to an award recently delivered by tho present Arbitration Court in .Auckland. The award in question provides for a 70-hour week for certain workers in the brickmaking industry. In view of the fact that tb« union was prepared to agree to a. 56-hour week, we consider tho award unjust, and that the time has passed in this country for workers to be sentenced to such unjust conditions. We further wish to point out that the same award does not provide for overtime rates for some wnrKors, who are called on to do night work after having worked the whole day. Your attention is directed to clause 427 of the Peace Treaty signed by the Prime Minister, which endorses tilei principle of tho eight-hour day.’ Clause 427 of the Peace Treaty referred to in the telegram set out that certain principles for regulating labour conditions should ho aimed at m all industrial communities so far ns their special ciicumstances would permit, and the clause recommends the adoption of an eight-hour day, and of a forty-eight hours week as a standard to be aimed at where it has not .already been attained. The Minister of Labour (the Hon. G. J. Anderson) lias forwarded t.io following reply to Mr. F. M. Bartram, p “The telegram signed by yourseif and other Auckland members has been received, and the contents noted. I have not been able to peruse the award, as a copy has not come to Tiand, but when it is received 1 will read it carefully. As you are aware I have no power to interfere with the Arbitration Court in the exercise ft its duty, either on behalf of the workers or tho employers.”