THE DRIVERS' DISPUTE

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15131, 23 October 1912, Page 3

THE DRIVERS' DISPUTE

THE COURT'S FINDING.

IN ASK IN WAGES.

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WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Tun award of the Court of Arbitration in the drivers' dispute has been filed. A memorandum to the award slates that it was proposed by tho Driven*' Federation to apply for a Dominion award under the Act of 1911, but, owing to defective legislation in the subject, this was found to he impossible. Applications for local awards were, made, therefore, in Auckland. Gisborne, Wellington, Wanganui, Napier, Christchurch, and Dune-din, and these, were heard as one dispute, in Wellington on September 17 and 18. They were treated as being in substance, though not in form, applications for a Dominion award. The awards for Wellington, Wanganui, and Napier have been filed in Wellington. Tho principal changes made, by the now awards in tho existing conditions are (1) Attendance to horses has been limited to eight hours, per week. There is no doubt (states tho memorandum) that in Cue past some employers have made improper use of the right to require drivers to attend to horses without any limit as to time, and somo restriction is. necessary ; (2) time occupied by drivers in going from and returning to stable is to count as part of his working hours ; (3) wages of drivers have been increased. In the city of Wellington tho increase is Is per week (£2 3s single horse, £2 12s two horses), and in Auckland, Christ-church, and Dunedin it. is 4s per week ; (4) rates for casual drivers have been increased, and arc now in Wellington Ik lid and Is 3d per hour for single horsedrivers and others respectively.

It was impossible to consider individual applications for exemption, ami a general clause has-been introduced giving the. Court power to exempt any employers who have not been bound by awards previously made in connection, with drivers, and who are engaged in any business not previously brought under operation of such award.