WEEKLY WAGES

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 271, 12 August 1938, Page 7

WEEKLY WAGES

Employers Seek Extension

Of Principle

CARPENTERS’ AWARD

By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, August 11

Extension of the principle of weekly wages was sought by employers, throughout New Zealand in an application heard by the Court of Arbitration. The application was made under the Dominion carpenters and joiners’ award. The applicant employers were granted exemption when the award was made on the understanding that there would be a special hearing to consider their application for inclusion, subject to special conditions, including a weekly wage. Mr. Anderson, for the employers, said the application was made on the invitation of the court, which had stated in ' its standard wages pronouncement of September last that the rates declared were rates for. workers casually employed who lost time through weather or other causes. The prbnouncement had stated that it was equally reasonable that due allowance should be made where employment was constant. The court in this connection, Mr. Anderson continued, had thought that in many cases provision should be made for employment by the week, in other words, that the principle of weekly employment should be extended. It was also pointed out that in two awards made covering employees of local authorities, the court had fixed alternatively weekly and hourly wages. It had been stated in a memorandum to these awards that the court recommended the adoption of this principle wherever practicable. Mr. Anderson said that many local authorities, wholesale and retail merchants, and factory occupiers, employed carpenters regularly, making no deduction from their wages because of holidays. It would be unjust to ask employers of this class to pay workers regularly employed the wage fixed for workers employed casually. Special conditions were asked for carpenters employed by freezing companies and county councils. Mr. Moulton and Mr. Kennerley, on behalf of the union, opposed the employers’ contentions, holding that all carpenters should be paid the award rate of 2/9J"nn hour. Alternatively, the workers suggested that if the court decided to fix a weekly wage as required by the employers, the weekly wage should be paid only if the worker was employed constantly for 52 weeks in the year, was paid for statutory holidays, and was allowed a fortnight’s holiday on full pay. The court reserved its decision.