PIECEWORK RATES

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 66, 11 December 1930, Page 12

PIECEWORK RATES

Typographers’ Award INTERPRETATION GIVEN Interpretation of a section of the New, Zealand Typographers’ Award was recently asked of the Court of Arbitration. The clause of the award under consideration reads: — "(a) The minimum piecework rates for linotype, intertype and linograph operators shall be as follows: Per 1000 ens solid as hereinafter specified, type up to and including 6-point, 4Jd.; up to 8-point, 4}d.; 9-point, 4R1.; 10-point, 5d.; the matter to be charged as it comes from the machine; and in clause 17 that the following provisions shall apply to piecework: (d) The cast-up shall be by en Quads, but with a minimum multiplier of 40 for 8-point on the 12} and 13 em measure. In cases where other measures are used, then the cast-up shall be in proportion to the foregoing. A space-band shall count as an en quad. Except in the case of 8-point type, the en quads shall be those of the matrices in actual use on the machines.”

The question asked was:—“ln the case of (5-polnt and 7-point type, is the multiplier to be used the number of en quad matrices per line or the average number of the actual letter matrices and space bands per line.” The opinion of the court, delivered by Mr. Justice Frazer, was as follows:— “The court may not have fully understood the technical terms used in clause 17 (d), but its intention is clear from the memorandum, and that intention was to provide for payment in ratio to the amount of work performed. The memorandum is not strictly part of the award, but it serves to explain what was in the mind of the court. The court now understands that the en quad matrices in use on a machine may not have any relation to the face of type used. It was formerly under the impression that an en quad bore a definite relation to the face of type in use, and could be treated, for practical purposes, as a letter -of the average size of that type. If necessary to remove any ambiguity in clause 17 (d), the eourt will amend the danse to harmonise with the intention expressed in the memorandum. The correct method of ascertaining the multiplier for 0-point and 7-point type is to take the average number of the actual letter matrices and space bands per line. “Mr. Monteith does not agree with the foregoing, and was not in agreement with tlie majority when the award was made. He is of the opinion that en quads cannot he regarded as the same thing as letter matrices.”