NEW AWARD SOUGHT

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 21, 25 July 1939, Page 4

NEW AWARD SOUGHT

RABBIT BOARD EMPLOYEES

I The hearing of a dispute between employers and employees of New Zealand rabbit boards' opened in conciliation council this morning before the Commissioner, Mr. S. Ritchie. Assessors for the employers were Messrs. K. W. Dalrymple (Bulls), A. i Rittson-Thomas (Kaikoura\ T. McKenzie (Invercargill), R. H. Lowry (Taihape), A. H. Goyder (Marlborough), B. Kelly (Napier), and S. I. McKenzie (Palmerston North). Mr. S. F. McKen2ie acted as advocate. The employees' assessors were Messrs. D. Harris (Invercargill), E. B. Fitzpatrick (Blenheim), L. Glover (Wellington), J. P. Queenan (Palmerston North), C. Bickford (Gisborne), T. Stanley (Auckland), and Miss M. B. Howard (Christchurch). The advocate was Mr. P. M. Butler. A rabbiter was defined in the employers' counter-proposals as a general employee engaged in manual work, and included packmen, ploughmen, sledgedrivers, and fencers. The following minimum rates of wages were offered by the employers:— Inspectors, not less than £260 for the . first year, then rising by annual incre- ; ments of £10 until £300 is reached, thereafter by mutual arrangement; , rabbiters, £4 5s per week; where a ! rabbiter has the powers of an inspector under the Rabbit Nuisance Act, and i acts in a dual capacity. £4 10s per i week; camp cooks. £4 12s 6d; other ' workers. £4 ss; casual workers. 2s 3d hpei. hour; youths under 18 to youths . between 20 and 21 years, waees ranging . from £1 17s 6d to £2 17s 6d. The employees asked for the follow- • ing scale of wages:—lnspectors, not ' less than £280 per year, rising by annual increments of £20 until £350 • is reached: rabbiters, £4 19s 6d; camp • cooks. £5 ss; other workers, £4 19s • 6d: casual workers. 10 per cent, addi- » tional on the respective rate for which - engaged; youths under 18 to youths . between the ages of 20 and 21 years, • £2 10s to £3 15s per week. 3 A few machinery clauses were } agreed to this morning.