FLOURMILLING INDUSTRY

Evening Star, Issue 22631, 24 April 1937, Page 11

FLOURMILLING INDUSTRY

CONDITIONAL WAGE INCREASE MUST BE RESOWED BY HIGHER PRISE [Per United Press Association.] v.. CHRISTCHURCH, April 23. • An increase of Id an hour in the rates of pay for adult workers in the flourmilling industry throughout the Dominion will depend on whether a satisfactory arrangement can be made with the Department of Industries and Commerce to, make an increase in the price - of flour to cover the cost of the wage increase. An offer was made on this condition at the hearing ; of the Dominion dispute in the industry 'in the Conciliation Council. The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr S. Ritchie) presided. The hearing was adjourned till May 27, but a working agreement was reached on several points,. including hours of work and wages for youths and females. A 40-hour week, worked on five days, was agreed upon, with the special :provision that up to four hours of this could be worked on Saturday if the machines were stopped for a corresponding period during the week through the failure of power or a mechanical breakdown. Overtime rates were fixed at time and a-half for the first three hours and double rates thereafter, with _ the provision that four hours’ overtime on Saturday cohid be worked at a lower rate. Wages for youths, were fixed to commence at 21s a week, rising to £3 a week at the end of five years, subject to the provision for the basic wage. The wages for females- were agreed on to commence at 15s a week, rising to £2 5s a week at the cud of three years.