BONUS REDUCTIONS.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 4593, 20 May 1922, Page 3

BONUS REDUCTIONS.

APPLICATIONS FOR EXEMPTION. (Per Press Association.) Auckland, May 19. The first application for exemption from the award of the Arbitration Court, reducing the cost of living bonus by 5s was made to-day. An application was made on behalf of the city -butchers. It was stated that there was a special term in the agreement that wages should not be reduced during the time it was in force. The employers agreed that such was the case. Therefore, tho exemption -was granted. Regarding to freezing workers and allied trades, Mr Gill, for the union, said that this application would involve the whole of tho freezing industry in the Dominion, and that the owners much preferred that the ease be heard in Christcliurcli. The industry was covered by a Dominion award, and the whole union had filed applications for exemption. Instead of hoaring each case separately, it would be better to deal with the i whole matter. The Christchurch employers had agreed to this course. The Judge said that as Christchurch appeared to be the headquarters of this deal with the whole of teh ap ).’ industry, he would be would be prepared to doal with the whole of the applications there. This was agreed to. - . In the carpenters and joiners’ dispute, also for a Dominion award, Mr Bloodworth said, he had not cited the Federated builders, but an individual association. His Honour said the matter could be remitted to tho Court at Dunedin, and the Wellington and Christchurch applications could he heard at the samo time. This was agreed to. > , It was agreed that the tallcymcn s applications bo withdrawn, provided the Union Company, and other shipping companies make no reduction m overtime. ' DUNEDIN LABOUR RESOLUTION. Dunedin, May 19. The Otago Labour Council passed a resolution expressing sincere disappointment at tho decision of tho Arbi- • tration Court iii reducing the wages of Workers, as, in its opinoin, tho judgment was not based on tho merits of the case submitted by the workers’ representative. Further, this Council protests against the action of the workers’ representative on the Court in consenting to- a reduction in the standard of living of workers in New Zealand.