RABBIT BOARDS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 17, 17 December 1937, Page 8

RABBIT BOARDS.

DOMINION AWARD. PROVISIONS ANNOUNCED. Per Press Association. HASTINGS, Dec. 17. The fact that rabbit ancl rabbitproof fencing boards throughout the Dominion had been separated from other rural local bodies in the matter of the industrial dispute and had reached a complete agreement as to the schedule of the employees’ award was mentioned this morning by Mr Bruce Kelly, secretary of the North Island Rabbit Boards’ Association. The award is applicable to the whole of New Zealand, and while the rates of pay are substantially higher than has been the case for the South Island they are on a par with the rates ruling in a number of North Island districts. An interesting provision of the award is that no fixed number of hours is included, _ hours of work being arranged to suit each board, but where practicable they shall not exceed 40 a week. Where practicable employees shall be allowed a holiday on the Saturday of each week. To compensate for the elasticity of hours it is provided that workers shall be granted two weeks’ holiday on full-pay for each year of service with the same employer. The scale of minimum wages or salaries as set out by the award is as follow: Inspectors, not less than £260 for the first year, rising by annual increments of £lO to £300; thereafter by mutual arrangement. Rabbiters, £4 8s 4d, rising to £4 10s, after Juno 1 next in the event of the completion of one year’s service. Working inspectors, £4 12s 6d; camp cooks, £4 15s; other workers, £4 8s 4d; casual workers, 2s 4d an hour. Youths under 18'years, £2; between 18 and 19 years, £2 7s 6d; between 19 and 20 years, £2 15s; between 20 and 21 years, £3. The proportion of youths is to be one to three adult workers. The award is made retrospective to June 1 and continues in force until May 31, 1939.