ELECTRICAL WORKERS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 147, 19 December 1930, Page 12

ELECTRICAL WORKERS

ADHERENCE TO STANDARD EMPLOYEES PEOTEST

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, 18th December. An increase of one half-penny an hour in wages has been granted by the Arbitration Court to two out of six classes of workmen covered by the Northern District Electrical "Workers' Award. The rates for linesmen have been advanced from 2s 2d to 2s 2id an hour, and for linesmen's assistants from Is HJd to 2s. The term of the award-is two years, from uth. January, 1931. ' The special circumstances under which this decision lias been made are explained by Mr. Justice Frazer, President of the Court, in a memorandum attached to tho award. A dissenting opinion has been recorded by the employers' representative, Mr. Cecil Prime. A PREVIOUS DECISION. Tho memorandum of the President stated, inter alia: "The majority of the Court considered itself bound by its decision in the Dunedin City Corporation Linesmen's and Linesmen's Assistants' Award, made in 1929, to increase rates for linesmen and linesmen's assistant. The Court, after having fixed a standard, must apply that standard until it decides to alter it. Mr. Prime dissents on this point, and Uis dissenting opinion is appended." "UNJUST PROCEDURE." Mr. Prime's opinion contains the following comment: "The adoption of a higher rate means imposing an added^ cost on an essential service. Such procedure- at the present time is unjust, particularly in country areas, where producers are in urgent need of means to reduce their costs. Tho Court should take into consideration more fully -the economic condition of the country, and act in accordanco with the exigencies of the moment rather than be guided by what may have .been done by a small minority of -employers more than a year agt>, when the gencal conditions were vastly different from those which are ruling to-day."