Letters to the Editor

Evening Star, Issue 26154, 16 July 1947, Page 6

Letters to the Editor

Sir,—Mr Cookson accuses me of misleading the carpenters in Otago, and says the purpose of my remarks in Saturday’s ‘ Star ’ was. to foment dissatisfaction with the award. I wish to state that the circumstances relative to the award for Otago and Southland are generally known to our members, and that the disappointment with the wage increase was expressed very generally and in stronger terms than 1 used. 1 merely gave voice to a generally-expressed sentiment. Mr Cookson takes out of my remarks his own implication that the Otago and Southland carpenters have been singled out for a raw deal. It is common knowledge that the New Zealand Carpenters’ Union had formulated claims for a new award, and the Otago and Southland unions of employers and workers desired the same terms for this district. Therefore, as the basis for the Otago and Southland award was the New Zealand (except Otago and Southland district) award, it was natural to have used comparisons between groups - of workers in other districts.

Mr Cookson’s statement that the rate of 3s Old is inclusive of extra payments formerly made for special jobs and of travelling time may be in the provisions of the general labourers’ award for New Zealand (except Otago), but in practice the workers still receive the special payments, as was clearly shown by«Mr Monteith in the court at the resumed hearing of the carpenters’ dispute, when he stated categorically that employers were still paying the special payments in addition to the weekly wage, and ehalleng’ed. any employer to prove to the contrary. /The same statements were expressed previously in the hearing of the Otago general labourers’ award in his dissenting opinion, in which lie stated that the wages awarded for Otago builders’ labourers are the lowest in New Zea-, land for similar work. The whole of New Zealand except the Otago district will receive a higher minimum wage by 11s 8d a week. The fact that in the’Dominion award the workers have no. protection . for country or suburban work makes no difference; it only means that the individual worker will demand from his employer the additional cost -lie has been put to, but the plain fact remains that in this district tne building trades labourer has been awarded a minimum wage of £5 10s a week as against £6 Is 8d for the rest of , ( the Dominion. Further critical ideas were, expressed, but have no direct bearing on our argument that the correct basis for comparison of relative wage rates was adopted ! in. qur statement. I take strong exception to. Mr Gookson’s innuendo that I wilfully distort facts or ignore factors which do not suit my purpose. When viewing, any matter'affecting our members I naturally do so from the wider: view .of carpenters in the rest of New Zealand. Criticism of the Otago. and Southland award naturally applies to the rest of New Zealand.—l am, etc., Samuel Ikin, Secretary, Otago Carpenters’ Union. July 16. ”. .■■■:■■■

DANCE BAND STANDARDS

Sir,—“ Modern Old-timer ” and his supporter “ Ex-Bandsman,” are, to be congratulated on their criticism of local dance bands As a lover of all music, arid a dance musician who’ would like to see the local standard of playing higher, 1 see a variety of reasons for the present state of affairs. « Too .many musicians, cannot read a note of music, but rely on ear playing. In fact, there are some so-called pianists who cannot /give their - bands the tuning/note, ’and, as “ Ex-Bands-man ” states, too many players do not realise the value of brass band and orchestral training as a solid grounding for dance playing. If dance "promoters had a better appreciation of music, and would demand and recognise a high standard for which they would be prepared to pay a little more than the award, they would do a lot towards the raising of the quality of the • bands. Dunedin offers very little scope at any time for. good museians as far as ds&ce playing is concerned, and a full- time professional band, which would set a high standard (such as in : the northern centres), could not earn a living. The Museians’ Union could help to improve matters, too. if it refused to admit members who could not pass a proficiency test, or, at any i ate, grade its present members, according to their ability. The public would then demand the best available, and the weaker museians would either have to improve their standard or lose engagements.— I am, etc.,, Very Interested. July 14. : . ■ •