DRIVERS' UNION DISPUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16259, 19 June 1916, Page 7

DRIVERS' UNION DISPUTE.

EVIDENCE OF MASTER CARTERS. Tbt TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Christcht/rch, Saturday. In connection with the Drivers' Union dispute, which is now before the Arbitration Court, Ernest Arthur Craig, secretary to J. J. Craig, Ltd., Auckland, gave evidence that charges had not been increased on wharf cartage or any contracts. Out of 150 drivers, 84 were- working on contracts, for which no increase could be secured. For customers' business there had been no increase. No rise had taken place in the carting of wool or furniture. Prices could not be raised on more than 15 per cent, of business. If the association secured x what it was trying for it would mean an increase to his firm of £4048, apart from consequential increases ■to men not covered by the award. Of this increase £1755 went to carters and £990 on the wharf, £1137 to coal, lime, and cement workers, and £166 to farriers. If they could get 6d a ton*extra it would only mean a return of £1600, but he did not expect an increase of 3d a ton on half of the tons carted. Relief had to come either by getting better prices or getting out of the carrying business. Frank Cooper, secretary of the Canterbury Employers' Association, gave evidence regarding the cost of living, and the increase of wages, tending to show that workers were better off now than they had ever been. His Honor asked how the workers were getting on who had had no increase since the war.

Witness replied that these workers, which included the secretaries of the Employers' Association, were bearing the whole burden. He went on to say that from 1896 to 1911 the sovereign had decreased by 4s Id, but workers had got an increase of 9s 9jd in the £.