MINIMUM WAGE

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 March 1934, Page 7

MINIMUM WAGE

DECISION AGAINST UNION.

[FEB PBESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON, March 16.

The Court of Appeal, to-day, considered the question stated for its opinion by Mr. Justice Frazer, of the Court of Arbitration concerning the minimum wage payable to dressmaking apprentices, under the Factories Act, 1921-1922. Mr. Archer, in opening the case for the Union, stated that the practice for which the Union was striving in the present appeal had been observed by the Court of Arbitration over the whole of the last, decade. The Court of Arbitration had always held that wages should be increased each year by a definite annual increment being added to the wage at which the . employee commenced work. He submitted legal argument to show that the Factories Act, 1921-22 supported -this contention. The Court did not call upon counsel for the appellant to reply, but gave judgment for the appellant. The Chief Justice stated that the Factories Act provided only for a minimum rate of wages, and that under this rate the employees _ concerned would be entitled in their fourth year to 25s per week. They were being paid in accordance with the award at the rate of 30s per week, less 10 per cent. This was a reduction applying to all awards. As this amount was not less than the minimum provided by the Factories Act, the wage was liable to the 10 per cent, deduction claimed by the appellant. The other members of the Court, Justices Herdman, Blair and Kennedy, concurred. The Court adjourned until Monday.