CAEPENTEES' AWAED

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 68, 22 March 1933, Page 9

CAEPENTEES' AWAED

HARBOUR BOARD'S

POSITION

The Arbitration Court today heard an application by tho Wellington Harbour Board for an amendment of the earponters' and joiners' award. Mr. Justice Frazcr prfcsided, and there were with him on the Bench Messrs. A. L. Montcith (workers' assessor) and \V. Cecil Prime (employers' assessor)-

Mr. W. Mount joy, who appeared for the Harbour Board, asked that the provision in the award. relating to tlio board bo amended to read: (1) The Wellington Harbour Board is respectively bound by sueh only of tho provisions of this award as relate to tho payment of the minimum rates of wages and overtime, and the observance of Sundays and holidays. (2) The Har-bour-Board may substitute the holidays observed under \heir own regulations in lieu of those provided for in the- award. He said that the board employed eight permanent carpenters and a number of "regular" casuals, whof were only employed'on odd jobs and the erection of small sheds aaid< structures.

Mr. Justice Frazer: May we take it that the position is that tho Harbour Board lets by contract.the erection of buildings of any size, and this clause refers only to the erection of small sheds and temporary buildings?

Mr. -Mountjoy said it was not thte intention of the board to deviate from its' present policy of carrying out large buildings by contract.

His Honour: Perhaps tho union and the Harbour Board could come to terms on tho basis of the valiio of the buildings to "bo erected.

', For tho union, it was claimed by Mr. -Moulton that the Harbour Board" should be bound by tho terms of the award becauso the permanent-casual men were engaged in doing work in connection with wharves similar to work done on shore. Objection was not being raised with respect to the permanent men.

Mr: Monteith: Other harbour boards in New Zealand are not asking for exemption from the award.

His Honour: I understand the applicants want to be left in connection with wharves in the same position as they were before the amendment was made in tho award.

Tho Court reserved, its finding,