BASIC WAGE

Grey River Argus, 17 October 1936, Page 8

BASIC WAGE

Case of Women OBJECTION RAISED. (Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, October 16. Fearing that a basic wage may adversely affect 'the existing conditions, representatives of female workers are moving to prevent the fixation of a wage, by the Arbitration Court, for women. The Minister is understood already to have been approached, and failing action by him, it is stated an application will be made to the Court to exempt females from the basic wage provisions of the I. C. & A. Act. Grounds for fears are stated to be that war-time bonuses for women were only half that for men, and with the possibility of a male basic wage being fixed at £4 for a family of five people, the women’s share is likely to be considerably less than half. The prime movers in the matter are the clothing trade and hotel workers. FIVE-DAY WEEK. WELLINGTON, October 16. The Railways Minister announced that the Head Office from Saturday will not be open for business on Saturday mornings, because of reduced contracts that can be made on those mornings. Another factor is that other businesses and firms have re-arranged office hours on the other five days, and the present adjustment of hours of the staff of the Railways Office synchronises 'the hours more with those of other businesses. The Railways’ staff will commence at 8.25 and finish at 5, making the time worked the same as before -for the whole week. Telephone messages received at headquarters will be passed on to appropriate oflieers, so that urgent matters may be dealt with. , BOSSES WAGES OFFER. BETTER THAN ASKED FOR. WELLINGTON, October 16The unusual position of employers m the counter-claims offering skilled tanners higher wages than claimed, aro.-e in the dispute between the Wellington Tanners’ Union and Payes Tannery Ltd., the employees claiming 2s 6d and the employers offering 2s 7-Jd. A 40-hour week was agreed upon, 7.30 a.m., to 5.50 p.m., with a provision for shifts when necessary, between 6 a.m., and 11 p.m'., providing a shilling extra be paid. -Both claims and counterclaims set down wages for labourers at 2s 2d an hour. The Managing Director said the offer to skilled tanners was not loaded. A skilful tanner was necessary and it took a good man to do the work. The offer vias agreed to and overtime rates arranged, statutory holidays and meal money 1/6. The only remaining matter is wages for youths, which will be discussed this afternoon.

Liner Strathaird

ENGINEERS’ STAND. LONDON. October 14. The engineers who walked off. the liner “Strathaird” are demanding an Increase from 215 s to 260 s monthly, a reduction of overtime, and better food. The passengers total 11U0. the P- & O. officials are making no . comment. LATER. The P. & O. Company state that the Strathaird difficulties have been amicably settled, and the ship will sail ro-morrow. The ' Company deny that the engineers threatened to strike. Some merely stated they were nut willing to sign on unless the terms of their engagement were considered. SCREEN ACTORS’ UNION. NEW YORK, October 15. Thu Actors’ Equity Association has announced the biggest and most important list of suspensions in recent times. It includes Lionel Barrymore, Alice Brady, Jack Oakie, Nai Pendleton, and 20 others, for not joining the Screen Actors’ Guild, a sister organisation. This drastic step was taken as a move towards the objective of “unionising” the screen.