ARBITRATION COURT

Evening Star, Issue 17720, 22 July 1921, Page 5

ARBITRATION COURT

BONUS APPLICATIONS,

FURTHER INCREASES REFUSED

The Arbitration Court has already dealt with several matters which came before it on Wednesday last. Its decisions are as follow ;

COOKS AND STEWARDS

This is an application for a further cost of living bonus. The court' has granted the stewards the cost of living bonuses heretofore declared by it, and cannot grant the further bonus applied for, as the effect of such a grant would be to increase the wages without reference to tho cost of living. The basis of the application' is the new rates recently awarded by the Australian Court, and this is not a “ relevant consideration ” under the War Legislation and Statute Law Amendment Act of 1918. It has to be borne in mind that since November, 1920 tho New Zealand award with bonuses gave higher rates than the Australian award, and the Australian rates, which are now his/her than' those in New Zealand, arc liable to be reduced under the Australian legislation at a date earlier than that on which the Now Zealand rates 'are likely to be reconsidered. An award once made is intended to be a settlement for a definite period of the matters in dispute, and can jho amended only in strict accordance with the provisions of the law. The application is dismissed. GALLEY HANDS. This is an application to amend the award in rtspcct of the hours of work and overtime rates of the galley staff under the cooks and stewards’ award. The application is based on the recent Australian award. The court is of opinion that alterations in conditions annlicable to Australia are not “relevant considerations ” that it is entitled to take into account when it is asked to amend ai New Zea’and award under the provisions of the Act of 1918. though they may be relevant when a new award is being made by this court. In any event, certain provisions in tho Australian award relative to tvnicT conditions cannot be of general app’ication in New Zealand. Further, the court has no power to amend an award under the provisions of'the War Legislation and c t*>tute Law Amendment Act of 19W unless it is satisfied as to the existence of a change in circumstances since the award was made. In the present c’se the award -is only a few weeks old. and there has been no change in the conditions affect-inn the industry. On the other hand, the slackness of business has caused a number of vessels to be laid up. The application is dismissed. BUILDERS A'-'D CONTRACTORS’ LABORERS.

In respect to the application to strike out the Oamaru Borough Council from tho builders’ and contractors’ laborers’ award, the court has decided that it Is more convenient that a borough council should be joined ns a party to tho local bodies’ laborers' award, and has therefore struck out the borough council. The award is binding on the council until today. In respect to the application to add the Oamaui Borough Council and the Oamaru Harbor Board to the local bodies’ award, the scope of the same shall bo deemed to include the area covered by the operations respectively carried on by both parties. Nothing in the award shall apply to tho permanent workers employed by the Oamaru Harbor Board, and the harbor master’s staff. LIME. CEMENT, AND BRICK WORKERS. The application by the lime and cement workers for a cost of living bonus was dealt with when the award was made, and no further bonus is payable. It was made clear to the court that all existing bonuses were, by agreement of the Conciliation Council, covered by the recommendations made. The award of tho brick, pottery, and clay workers provides for the standard rates and bonuses, and there is no reason for granting a special cost of living bonus in this industry. WAX VESTA EMPLOYEES. The wax Vesta, employees engaged iu piecework and adult male workers are granted the November bonus ol 3s per week. Female workers over twenty-one years of ago are granted 4s 6d per week, and those under this age 4s per week. ■ HAIRDRESSERS’ ASSISTANTS.' ‘ In the hairdressers’ assistants’ award the hours have been reduced from fifty to forty-eight per week. • MANUFACTURING CHEMISTS. The court this afternoon heard tho manufacturing chemists’ employees’ dispute, in which a partial agreement was come to in the Conciliation Council.