N.Z. TIMBER MILLS

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 May 1936, Page 5

N.Z. TIMBER MILLS

HIGHER WAGES SCHEDULE. [PEB PBESS ASSOCIATION.] PALMERSTON N„ May 7. Substantial increases in wages for those engaged in the timber industry in most parts of the North Island, are assured as the result of Conciliation proceedings, concluded to-day. . cation is to be made to the Arbitration Court for an award incorporating rates, virtually on the 1931 level of wages. The principle of the forty hour week was not incorporated in the agreement reached which however is to he binding only for three months. During that term the hours observed during the past 12 months will remain operative. This, in the majority of cases, is 46 in town timbervards, and forty-eight in country sawmills. After three months, the employees anticipate that the new legislation will be operative, applying the 40-hour week, and a new award may then be sought accordingly. The wages rates agreed on were on the basis of an all round increase of 3Ad an hour over the schedule submitted by the employers at the oiitset. This represents a minimum of 1/10 for labourers rising to 2/1 for machinists. The employers also agreed to an increase by 5/- a week of their proposed rates for juvenile labour. The new rates operate frdm June 1, while the other terms arc binding for three months, from the date of the fixing of the award by the Court.