BOOTMAKERS' WAGES.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 2775, 17 October 1923, Page 5

BOOTMAKERS' WAGES.

EXISTING AWARD RENEWED.

[Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, October IG.

In a memorandum to the Arbitraton Court's award n the New Zealand federated boot trade dspute filed today Mr Justce Frazer said that the principal matter referred to the Court was .the classification of operatives, which had been agreed to in part before the Conciliation Council, In view of the importance of having the scheme of' classification thoroughly investigated, the Court had hesitated ,to adopt the employers' scheme, the only one submitted to it, and for that reason had renewed with a few amendments the existing award. The Court was satisfied that the boot manufacturing industry was one to which classification could be applied and for that reason had made the term of the award one year only. If the parties were unable to agree on a scheme before the expiry of the award,, the Court would probably embody an arbitrary scheme in the next award. The Court had substituted the disputes committee for the former board of control as the powers proposed for the latter were ultra vires. It had not dealt with piece-work, as it was open for an employer to agree with his workers on any system of payment, so long as the minimum wage was paid.