WAGE REDUCTION

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 May 1931, Page 3

WAGE REDUCTION

arbitration court hearing. [per press association.] WELLINGTON, May 10. Up to yesterday it is understood no application had been filed for the hearing of the claim for a general order reducing award wages. Possibly the Judge has received the application, and, as stated, has agreed to hear the case on Tuesday. If the case is heard on Tuesday, the representatives of the employees will, it is said, ask for an adjournment to enable them to prepare their case. One view expressed on behalf of the workers is that the circumstances vary in different industries; and that in some cases the position has already been met by agreement with a minimum of inconvenience to both employers and employees. The following have been appointed to represent the workers: New Zealand Trades and Labour Councils Federation, Mr J. McCombs, M.P., and Mr T. Young, secretary of the Woollen Mills employees, Wellington; National Association Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners, Mr T. Bloodworth; New Zealand Typographical Association, Mr C. H. Chapman, M.P. The employers will be represented by Mr T. O. Bishop. Mr McCombs is already in Wellington. He was joined yesterday morning by Mr H. Worrall, secretary of th© Canterbury General Labourers’ Union, who went north last night, Mr J. Roberts, secretary of the New Zealand Clothing Trades Federation, and Mr E. C. Sutcliffe, secretary of the Carpenters’ Union, are other representatives from Christchurch, who will attend the sitting. It is doubtful whether Mr Roberts will be permitted to have a voice in the discussion, but, as he will be the only representative of women • employees at the Court, it is considered that a privilege will be extended to him in this connection, particularly since the case for women differs from that of men in regard to hours, wages jand general conditions. An important feature of the case for women is in respect to apprentices. Although male apprentices were excluded from the provisions of the Finance Bill, which gave authority to the Arbitration Court to make an order for wage reductions, no reference was made to female apprentices, and gome concern is felt in the Clothing Trade Federation as to what alterations of conditions are likely to be made. ' , After the application for a general variation of awards has been heard, it is likely that appeals will be lodged by Various trade unions for exemption m special circumstances.

UNEMPLOYMENT STATISTICS.

CHRISTCHURCH, May 10. Returns supplied by the Minister of Labour, Mr Smith, show that for the week ended May 4, there were 36.921 men registered as unemployed under the new system Jof registration. Of this number, 23,950 men were placed through the various Labour Bureaux during the week, leaving 12,971 unemployed. The figures for the centres were.—

Auckland: With dependents, 2007; without dependents 2565. Wellington: With dependents, 1248; without dependents, 217. Christchurch: With dependents, 2511; without dependents, 1543. Dunedin: With dependents, 1218; without dependents, 1017. Invercargill: With dependents, 653; without dependents, 379. Excluding the men placed, the registrations on May 4 were: —Auckland, 1551; Wellington, 997; Christchurch, 836; Dunedin, 1302; Invercargill, 259; other towns, 8026.

DISTRESS IN CHRISTCHURCH.

CHRISTCHURCH, May 10.

The fact that the employment of men for a portion only of three weeks Jn every four was in many cases throwing men on the Hospital Boayd for relief, was pointed but to the Prime Minister in a telegram sent by Mr W. S. Wharton, secretary of the North Canterbury Hospital Board, following a meeting of the Benevolent Committee of the Hpspital Board. Over two hundred applications were dealt with by the Board, and in many cases it was found that the men were on relief work, but were not making sufficient to keep their families during the four weeks. The Board helped them, but afterwards sent a telegram to the Prime Minister pointing out the position and asking for his guidance on the matter.

“It would cost us £30,000,” said Mr Wharton this morning, “and the Board feels that it is the responsibility of the Unemployment Board,” To give the men time to look for other work to help them to make the best of things, the committee did not issue work tickets last week, but the future policy of the Board has not yet been determined. GERMAN PROPOSALS. BERLIN, May 8. The German Government’s Commission recommends that, instead of drawing a dole in idleness, the unemployed should be forced into battalions and drafted for agricultural work, receiving their keep and also pocket money. The Commission also proposes a big programme of public utility works.