5 PER CENT. WAGE RISE

Grey River Argus, 6 December 1940, Page 12

5 PER CENT. WAGE RISE

PRIVATE HOTEL-OWNERS SEEK EXEMPTION WELLINGTON, December 5., Decision was reserved by the Court of Arbitration to-day on an application by the employers tinder the New Zealand Private Hotel Employees’ Award for exemption from the Court’s general, order , awarding the five per cent, cost-of-living bonus. The application was based on two grounds —first, that the business of the employers has already suffered severely from an increase in the cost of living and a decrease of patronage caused through curtailment of tourist traffic because of the war and the rationing of petrol; and second that payment of the cost-of-living bonus would impose an unfair burden on the industry. Ninety per cent, of the worker's were supplied with bpard and lodging by the employers, so they were not affected by the increased cost of living, except in regard to clothing. CLERICAL WORKERS’ AGREEMENT WELLINGTON, December 5. Complete agreement was reached in Conciliation Council proceedings today in regard to the New Zealand Clerical Workers’ Award. Apart from an increase of 3s in the pay of hotel clerks in cases where only one is employed, and a minor alteration in the method of computing holidays, there was no alteration in the award. Commissioner M. J'. Reardon presided.