ARBITRATION COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 2 October 1929, Page 5

ARBITRATION COURT

WATERSIDERS AWARD

OLD RATE RENEWED.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association

WELLINGTON, October 2.

No alteration lias been made in the rate of wages in the New Zealand waterside workers award filed in the Court of Arbitration to-day. The main dispute with which the Court was concerned, was the general cargo rate, which is the basicrate for industry. A majority of the court, Justice Blater and Mr Schmitt (employers representative) found there had been no change in the conditions warranting any increase in the new award. 'The previous rate had been adopted but some minor adjustments had been made in the nature of increases to correct some inconsistencies in the old award.

The Union claimed . the general cargo rate should be increased 2d an hour, the basis of claim being that casualness of employment in industry was greater than was assumed to he the case when the Court fixed the rates in the expired . 1924 award. The majority of the Court found there was no evidence to support the suggestion that any increase in the basic rate was justified on the ground of increased casualneps. There was a marked divergence in the jViews of . members of the Court upon the question of what was called the “basic wage” advocated for. The Union contended that “a man, wife and two children” basis was positively fixed as a basis upon which the Court calculated the basic wage of the adult worker. That view was upheld hv Mr Monteith (workers representative on the Court). The majority of the Court held that the view was not a proper basis and was moreover an unsound basis. Mr Monteith after discussion upon the. question of wages, dissociated himself from participation in the settlement of the. remaining questions left for discussion. He wrote a dissenting opinion in which he made it clear that lie refrained from taking any part in the framing of the award. Mr Monteith in his dissenting memorandum concluded.:—As the increase they’ are entitled to has been refused, I will .not attempt any responsibility for any untoward .happening in this industry, as. the result of, in my opinion, the inadequate wage allowed. , , .