WAGES OF DRIVERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 78, 1 April 1936, Page 4

WAGES OF DRIVERS

BUSES. AND SERVICE CARS

WORKERS' APPLICATION

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, March 31,

' The fixing of wages for motor-bus and service-car drivers was considered at a sitting of the Arbitration Court | today. Mr. Justice Page presided. An agreement for a new Dominion award .for passenger transport drivers had already been reached at the Conciliation Council proceedings on all points except the wages question, which it had been-agreed to refer to the Court,- -■'.. ■ .'-c-.. - The New Zealand Federated Drivers' and Related--Trades' Industrial Association; of Workers, represented by Mr. A.'" Parlane, sought .an increase ■from the present rates.ol.£4 5s a, week for drivers and £3 8s for learners" to £5 and £4 respectively, which were the ruling rates from 1926, to 1931. The employers*- represented by Mr. T. O. Bishop, .-■ offered to increase ...:' drivers' wages to £4 12s 6d and learners' wages proportionately. ■'■ ■■ Mr. Parlane said the claims were modest and merely sought the restoration of the cuts which had been given baek'-by-employers-in many other industries.1" He called witnesses who stated.•th'at;'bus , driving- was a strain ori the eye's, throat," and'nervous system, and caused-indigestion and other internal complaints. Increased traffic sihce"'l926 made.the,work more trying "and increased responsibility, and there ~,w,as .a; likelihood of one mistake causing loss of employment.;. ■ Mr. Bishop;-said he would call witnesses "to-show that'the .conditions of employment "I were, good - and that drivers remained for long; periods in the same l service. : -• Evidence of .the conditions in their •services was given by •a- number of witnesses;•' They_ denied -that, drivers suffered-illhealth\'..': '' "The •Court reserved'its judgment.