ARBITRATION COURT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17666, 19 December 1917, Page 10

ARBITRATION COURT.

APPLICATION TO AMEND PAINTERS’ AWARD. IN VIEW OF COST OF LIVING. * At the sitting of the Arbitration Court yesterday, Mr H. Hunter, on behalf of the Christchurch Painters’ Industrial Union of Workers, made application for an amendment of tho award made in the painting trade on Octobor 2of last year. Tho application was for an order to review Clause 2 of tho award to fix the minimum rate of wages or other remuneration in connection with Clauso 2 on tho ground, principally, that tho cost of living had gone up materially since tho award came into force. His Honor Mr Justice Stringer presided, and with him wero Mr W. Scott (employers’ representative), and Mr J. A. M’Cullough (workers’ representative). Mr W. Broadhead represented the Master Painters’ Association.

Mr Hunter, in opening the case, said that the Court might consider the application a novel one. Ho wished to point out, however, that the union was tile only one in which an increase of wages had not been made. Mr Hunter stated thnt the reason for approaching the Court was owing to the enormous increase in the cost of living. Since the award was made the Court had granted a 10 per cent bonus to several unions, and the Government had recognised the extraordinary position, by increasing salaries in the Civil service, The painters asked for a living wage. The men were mailing sacrifices, recognising that others were doing so in tne country, but they claimed that the time had como for conditions to be made easier for them m tlio matter of meeting the cost of living. Mr Broadlicad drew attention to the fact that only the secretaries of the Christchurch Master Painters’ Association and the New Zealand Master Painters’ Association had had notices served on them. The proper form of procedure had not been followed, no Qtosal that a conference should be had beon made, and the master painters were of opinion that tlio matter was tflat of order. Mr Hunter replied that he understood a. meeting of master painters was to liavo been held in the matter and offered, if considered necessary, to make arrangements to put tho whole matter in ordor. The President said the Court was in doubt .as to whether an application .of tho kind could bo made and considered. According to tho section of tlio Act the Court had already fixed the minimum rates of wages. Section 08 of the Arbitration Act seemed to limit tlio powers of the Court to an amendment of an award in which the minimum rates had not been fixed. At the same time the Court wished to say that the conditions prevailing warranted the master painters giving some consideration to tho matter of increasing the wages of their employees. Tlio Court recognised that the cost of materials in the trade had* gone tip enormously and that a certain reported slackness of trade was due to people withholding orders while tho cost of painting remained 60 high. The Court had no powpr to amend the award, but it did make a suggestion that the case of the employees should receive the favourable consideration of employers. That was as far as tho Court could go. Mr Broadhead stated that he had the authority of Mr A. Poison to inform the Court that the Christchurch Master Painters’ Association would give favourable consideration to the expression of opinion submitted by the President. Mr Hunter thanked tho Court for hearing the application and for the consideration shown to the employees in the sympathetic remarks.. made by his Honor Mr Justice Stringer. The Christchurch sittings of the Court then terminated.