DRIVERS' DISPUTE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XVIII, Issue XVIII, 22 October 1912, Page 5

DRIVERS' DISPUTE.

ARBITRATION AWARD

BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION

CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 21. The award of the Arbitration Court in the drivers' dispute has been handed to the parties. It was proposed by the Drivers' Federation to apply for a dominion award under the Act of 1911, but, owing to defective legislation on the subject, that was found to be impossible. Applications for local, awards were made, therefore, in Auckland, Glisborne, Wellington, Wanganui, Napier, Christchurch, and Dunedin, and these were heard as one dispute in Wellington on September 17 and 18. They were treated as being in substance, though not in form, applications for a dominion award.

The Court, in a memorandum, says that the principal, changes made by the new awards in the existing conditions are: (1) Attendance to horses has been limited to eight hours per week. There is no doubt that in the past some employers have made improver use of the right to require a driver to attend to his horses without any limit as to time, and some restriction on the subject was necessary. (2) The time occupied by a driver in going from and retiming to a stable is to count as part of his working hours. (3) The wages of drivers have been increased. In the city of Wellington the increase is Is per week, in Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin the increase is 4s per week. (4) Rates for casual drivers have been increased. The minimum wages are: One horse, £2 Ss per week, two or more horses £2 12s, casual drivers to be paid Is lAd per hour for one horse and Is 3d for more, overtime to be Is 3d and Is 6d respectively, and is to commence after 9i hours" have been worked in any one day. Casual driver is defined as one not employed for a week or more. On Sundays, Christinas Day, and Good Friday casual drivers should be paid 2s 6d per hour. Wages for youths are fixed at: IS to 19 years, £1 ss; 19 to 20 years, £1 10s; 20 to 21, £1 15s. The proportion 's one to one v , and after that one to euch four additional drivers. Bakers are to be allowed' to employ youths under 18 years at 12s 6d per week and found, or £1 unfound; others, 18 to 19 years, 15s to £1 2s 0d; 19 to 20, 18s to £1 8s; 20 to 21, £1 to £1 10s. The proportion to be one to one, and one more for each three additional drivers, provided that any employer who cannot, find a fullypaid driver may employ one youth.