CLOTHING TRADE

Hokitika Guardian, 21 June 1938, Page 7

CLOTHING TRADE

REPLY TO CRITICISM. ■,Per Press Association —Copyright). WELLINGTON, June 20. \ r op]y to criticism by Mr MacDonald secretary of Canterbury Employers' Association of the Dominion clothing trades award, was made by Mr Cornwell, secretary of the federation of Labour. He says the iast clothing trades award was made by Justice Page on , September IT, 193 e and provided for female apprentices and improvers being paid the f actories Act rate of wages which were set out in the award and female journeymen receiving .£*2/5/- a week. In the last woollen workers award issued by Justice Fraser on August 31, 1928 the rates for girls were- set out, while starting at same rate as clothing trades, they did not give the -1/- increment provided for by the factories Act of 1936 so that the act operated from the time it came into force giving girls in woollen mills identieajly the same rates as female apprentices and improvers in clothing factories. 'Mr MacDonald could not charge one court with running contrary to the decisions of the other court, as the clothing triples award copied the rates issued hv the first court, so far as females were concerned. If. Mr MacDonald said, some increase was expected, why did he not oHVt it,to the workers in the Conciliation Council, in which case In* might have got a,n award more to his liking. “Pin unable to read irom tin* memorandum to the award where Justice Hunter said the court cannot be eoneerned with the ability of the industry to pay,” said Mr Cornwell. What I roa,d .is Justice Hunter saving the matter of tariffs was one for the legislature not the court. It might he to .Mr MacDonald’s, advantage, seeing lie is a young advocate in. indusI rial matters, to point out to him that Judges in the Arbitration Court, not only in this country, hut in Australia, jiave repeatedly stated that n,n imliisx.rv that could not pay a living wage aid not deserve any consideration, and if: Mr Mn(•Dona,ld can argue that the rules of wages as set out in the clothier; trades award give anything bur, a hare living wage to workers concerned. all would he pleased lo hear it.