IS RADIO ELECTRICITY?

Hawera Star, Volume L, 27 August 1930, Page 2

IS RADIO ELECTRICITY?

ELECTRICAL WORKERS AWARD

1N TER PR ET AT lON SOUG HT

Whether those who worked with radio sets were to be classed as electricians formed the basis of a case heard in the Arbitration Court at Wanganui on Monday. There were; on the Bench : Mr. Justice Frazer, Mr. A. L. Monteith, workers’ representative, and Mr. W. Cecil Prime, employers’ representative. The case was brought by the Inspector of Awards (Mr. E. W. F. (Johns*), who applied for an enforcement by way of an interpretation. Radio Specialists, Ltd. (defendants) were alleged to be under the; Electrical Workers’ Award, hut the company submitted the award did not apply to them. Air. Gohns submitted that the defendants employed two youths at a less rate of pay than was provided by the award. Evidence showed that the two boys were employed in the installation oi radio sets. The defence was that the employees were not governed by the award. I). A. Morrison gave evidence that the youths did not work on all-electric sets. Licensed electrical wirernen handled that section. The boys were allowed to work on battery .sets only, but these were in no Way connected with electrical work. On the other hand, a man required no radio knowledge to obtaip a. wireman’s license. The youths employed by ' the defendants had not sufficient to learn to warrant their being tied up for live years as apprentices. The work did not require much skill. He thought they should be under a separate award. Witness also stated that the youths erected wireless aerials and replaced valves. Some; time ago witness had asked for an interpretation of the Electrical Workers’ Award as applicable to radio workers, hut he had received no reply. His Honour Air. Justice Frazer said he would give. his decision in writing as, no doubt, the same question would be raised in other places.