TIMBER INDUSTRY

Evening Star, Issue 25462, 18 April 1945, Page 4

TIMBER INDUSTRY

GENERAL WAGE INCREASE (P.A.) AUCKLAND, April 18. Following negotiations between representatives of the Sawmillers' Federation and the' New Zealand Timberworkers' Union, it has been agreed that wages in the timber industry throughout the Dominion (except Westland, Nelson and Marlborough) be increased in accordance with . the recent pronouncement by the Arbitration Court on standard wages. The new schedule of rates lias been presented to the court for ratification.

Reporting to this effect on his return from Wellington to-day, the secretary of the union, Mr F. Craig, said an increase of 3£d an hour on all 1942 wage rates had been agreed to, • while there were to be slight variations with respect to the wages schedule in the 1945 award, which became operative on January 1. The lowest rate in town establishments would now be 2s 8d hourly and in the bush 2s while wages' were to go up through the semi-skilled and skilled classes to 3s 3sd an hour for saw doctors: The rates for youths and females were to be increased by 4s weekly iu the towns, and the pay of youths in the bush section was to go up from Is to Is 6d a 'day. Mr Craig added that when the agreement was presented to the court, Mr Justice Tyndall congratulated the parties on the amicable agreement reached, thus assisting the court.