INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 February 1937, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS

ENGINE DRIVERS AWARD. [PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON. February 17. Consideration of the application by the Wellington, Taranaki, Nelson, and Marlborough Engine-drivers’ and their Assistants’ Industrial Union of Workers for a new award was continued in Conciliation Council to-day. Agreement was reached on all points except wages ami holidays for workers not covered by the Factories Act. These outstanding points will be discussed to-morrow morning. Overtime will be paid for ai the rate of time and a half for the first four hours, and double time thereafter. An emergency clause allows county councils to operate in special circumstances, however, when the hours of work may be eight hours at night or in the day at ordinary rates. Traction enginedrivers may agree to different hours.! Those engaged in agricultural work can contract for payment at a tonnage rate provided that the earnings are 10 per cent, above the ordinary ra t c. Where workers are required to travel. the usual travelling allowances will be made, and where a worker is re-

quired to stay away from home the I employer is to pay travelling expenses! to and from the place of work. Where the worker has to find his own accommodation. he will be paid 4/6 a day extra, and where accommodation is found by the employer 2/6 a day is to be paid each worker for food allowance while in such accommodation. Dirt money must, be paid at the rate of 2/- a day extra except that workers engaged in clearing hospital refuse. are to be paid 2/6 a day extra. APPRENTICES!!IP ORDERS. WELLINGTON. February 17. Whether existing apprenticeship orders are subject to the limitations of the Factories Amendment Act of last year was a question submitted to the' Arbitration Court to-day. when an.application was made by the Department of Labour for an interpretation of the Furniture Trades Appronticesip Award. After hearing argument the court reserved its decision. The case is of considerable importance to both emI plovers and workers. I H was submitted by Mr. F. .1. Foot •for the workers, that all apprenticoI'hip contracts, whether entered into j before or after July 1, 1936, wore subijcct to Section 12 of the Factories Act. 'After quoting certain legal decisions affecting apprentices, Mr. Foot said

that, for the existing orders to prevail! special exception should have been] been made in the Factories Act, or i alternatively some provision made iiij the Apprentices’ Act. that its . orders] should prevail over other legislation.! For the employers, Mr. T. O. Bishop contended that the spirit and underlying intention of the Factories Act was to confer benefits upon factory workers. If it could be shown that insults contrary to this intention would accrue from the application of the Factories Act to apprentices, and instead of benefits being conferred] upon those whom the act purported to serve there would actually bo created such anomalies as would be prejudicial to the interests of apprentices then in the absence of any specific provisions in the act that it. did apply to apprentices it must be hold not to applv. He held that, the application of (lie Factories Act to apprentices would create such anomalies and would, in fact, be prejudicial to the interests of hoys seeking apprenticeship! in manufacturing industries. At the- conclusion of the hearing; Mr Justice Page said the court would take time to consider its decision. “FREEZING" CLERKS. WELLINGTON, February IS. An agreement was reached between

the Union representing the clerical workers in the freezing industry, and the various companies who are members of the Freezing Companies’ Association. It. provides a salary scale for men ranging up. to £6 a week for the twelfth year, and for women a scale up to £3/12/6 a week for the eleventh year. The hours vary, but there is a general limitation of 44. TALLY CLERKS. CHRISTCHURCH, February 18. A strike of Railway casual tally Clerks which spread to all watersiders and ship tally clerks, delayed shipping at Lvttelton_,for nearly tw’o hours, this morning. The Railway casual tally clerks refused to work, as a protest against the decision of the Railwavs Department not to give them, retrospective pay as from October 1, lai a penny halfpenny per hour above Ihe 2/8 rate for watersiders. Meetings of the men and shipping and Railway officials were held, and ihe men resumed work on all ships at. 10.30 a.m. I Although the results of the negotiations were not disclosed, it is understood that the dispute has been referred to Wellington.