INDUSTRIAL AWARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16020, 11 September 1915, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL AWARD.

SOFT GOODS ASSISTANTS. MINOR ALTERATIONS ONLY. [BY TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION'.] Wellington, Friday. The award of the Arbitration Court in the Wellington soft goods assistants' dispute has been filed with the clerk .of awards. In a memorandum attached to the award, the Court says:—"As stated at the hearing of the dispute the Court, was of opinion that the present was an inopportune time to consider the question of making any substantial alterations in the existing award in relation to the soft goods trade, which will inevitably be prejudically affected by the lessened spending i power of the people, consequent upon the j increased taxation which will have to be ; imposed to meet the heavy charges upon, . the Dominion in connection with the war. The Court was also satisfied by the evidence that the war had already caused some disorganisation in the trade, owing to the difficulty of obtaining certain classes of goods from the customary markets and the delay and expense incurred in procur- . ing regular deliveries of supplies, and that this disorganisation'. would be accentuated if the war'continued" much longer-. In these circumstances the Court came to the conclusion that the proper course to adoptwas to make an award for a short period of time and without making any substantial alterations in the existing award." The Court has repeated the general provisions of the old award with some altera-, tions and additions to which there couldbe no reasonable objection, but has in- • creased to the minimum rate of wage for only -the' lower paid female workers.'- A ' corresponding increase in the rate of pay for casual hands has /also been made. The \. award will come into force on September ! 27, 1915, and continue in force until September 27, 1916. Its operation is limited to an area within 25 miles from, tie Chief ,£ Post Office, Wellington. v ' .r 1 - /- /> . %