WORK AND WAGES

Grey River Argus, 16 December 1937, Page 5

WORK AND WAGES

EXTRA HOLIDAY PAY Not What Was Intended [Per Press Association]. AUCKLAND, December 15. Members of the Auckland Employers’ Association are being advised that finality has been reached in the negotiations with the Government on the question of extra pay for statutory holidays, under the Factories The New Zealand Employers’ Federation, acting for the Employers’ Associations, has agreed that employers who are required by awards covering particular industries, in addition to the week’s wages, to pay for holidays which do not fall on the ordinary working days, will pay for last Boxing Day without further delay, and payment will also be made for holidays which come within the provisions of the awards, at the end of this month. It is announced that a statement will be issued by the Prime Minister in respect to the operation of the Factories Act and its amending effect on factories’ awards, making it clear that the interpretation given to the Act last Autumn by a Stipendiary Magistrate, and upheld by the Arbitration Court, was an interpretation which was never intended by the Government when the legislation was enacted, and the Government will take steps next session, to make the legislation clear. It is understood that the effect of the Government’s action will be retrospective. The Federation states that the action of the Government in rectifying legislation is entirely satisfactory. WELLINGTON, December 15. Hon. H. T. Armstrong announced to-day the Government’s intention to introduce, if necessary, when the session resumes in March, an amendment to the Factories Act, to give effect to its original intention in regard, to payment for prescribed holidays, which was merely to ensure that the workers should receive their ordinary weekly wage, without any deduction, when a holiday fell on a working day. The legislation will be retrospective. Freezing Workers EMPLOYERS HOSTILE. TO WAGE AND HOUR IMPROVEMENTS. AUCKLAND, December 15. "It is estimated that the Union’s present claims, including the cost of various overhead conditions, particularly overtime, will add more than £500,000 to the wages bill in the industry,” said Mr. C. G. Wilkin (Christchurch), opening the employees side of the freezing works dispute in the Second Arbitration Court. Replying to the Union’s request for a forty-hour, five-day week, Mr. Wilkin said in the very nature of the industry it was absolutely necessary that much of the work must oe carried on without interruption for at least 24 hours after killing-' stock. Much valuable stock matured in rushes on account of seasonal conditions, and the deletion of Saturday work would mean a delay in killing and serious loss to the farmer. The extra cost of the increases embodied in last years’ award was estimated at about £450,000, Mr. Wilkin added, and the companies felt that taking a long view of the market values for the industry’s products, and having regard to the fact that, directly or indirectly, additional charges fell on the farming community, the addition in two years of £1,000,000 to the annual wages bill was not warranted. The present claim would mean an increase of 80 per cent, to the 1935-36 wages bill. Mr. Wilkin said that the employers considered that not only was there no case for any increase, but they were justified in asking for some relief from certain of the present rates, where labour costs were out of all proportion to the nature of the work, and the value of the product. LATER. In the freezing dispute, witnesses wno were called gave evidence in support of the employers’ submissions, ' and contended that the introduction of the 40 hour, five-day week, was not practicable in the freezing industry. The Court reserved its decision.