TIMBER WORKERS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 May 1943, Page 4

TIMBER WORKERS.

[TO the editor.] Sir, —As I read the award of the West Coast Timber Workers’ Union, employees are entitled to eight statutory holidays each year. Anzac Day, which is included in the eight, having fallen on a Sunday this year, payment was withheld. To meet the cost of these holidays the Government allowed the employers to place so much extra on every 100 ft of timber. If the employer has been compensated for paying eight holidays nor year and this year finds he only nas to pay for seven, where will that extra day’s pay for every employee go, in bigger dividends or a reduction in the price of timber? Hoping Mr. Turley or Mr. Robertson of the West Coast Sawmillers’ Association will make some comment through your columns on this matter. Yours etc., MILL HAND. ' When the above letter was referred to the Chairman of the West Coast .Sawmillers’ Association (Mr. J. S. Robertson) he said: “The award reads as follows: ‘Holidays: Eight Statutory holidays: Christmas Day, BoiHng Day, New Year’s Day, Good Friday, ■'Easter Monday, Anzac Day, King’s Birthday, Labour Day. These are [paid for if they fall on a working day.’” The extra day’s pay mentioned by the correspondent would not go into bigger dividends or a reduction in the price of timber, he said, for the fact that some of the statutory holidays would not have to be paid for in some years on account of their falling on non-working days had been taken into account by the Price Tribunal in fixing the price of timber. He added, however, that not all the increased costs in the industry ?had been taken into account by the Tribunal, increases not considered including the rise from 67/- to 210/per cwt. for wire ropes and the rise from £2B to £ 150 for breaking-down saws.—Ed. “Star.”