ARBITRATION COURT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16946, 4 September 1918, Page 6

ARBITRATION COURT.

INCREASED WAR BONUS.

APPLICATIONS BY TWO UNIONS.

Two applications for increases in war bonuses were heard by the Arbitration Court yesterday.

The Auckland Carpenters and Joiners' Union, represented by Mr. T. Bloodworth, applied for an increase in the bonus from 2d to 6d an hour, thereby increasing the present wage from Is 8d to 2s an hour. Mr. J. Baildon, for the Master Builders' Association, and Mr. H. E. Wright, for other interested employers, opposed the application. Mr. Bloodworth said the in-, crease of 2d an hour by way of war bonus in 1917 bad been more than absorbed by the increased cost of commodities. Ho submitted balance-sheets of family expenditure, which, lie contended,.were borfie out by the Government statistician's ' figures regarding the cost of living. Mr. Baildon said if tho application were granted it would mean making a similar increase in tho war bonus to all classes of workers. Any increase in wages at the present timo would affect builders very seriously. The Carpenters' Award would expire shortly, and he suggested that the question of an increase be held over until the whole award came under review. John T. Julian said he had prepared a table of the average earnings of 14 men in continuous employment over a period of 12 months, which was £4 14s 3d a week. Eight men averaged over £5 a week. In the circumstances ho considered the demands of the union were preposterous. In reply to Mr. Bloodworth he admitted that one expert tradesman who had been regularly employed by him averaged only £3 8s 7d a week. Evidence was given showing that carpenters and joiners employed by the Union Steam Ship Company for varying periods up to a year averaged from £3 14s Id to £4 a week. Mr. Lowe, engineer of the Auckland Gas Company, said six carpenters were employed by tho company, who averaged £3 14s 4d" a week for a year. Mr. Wright submitted a return showing that six men employed continuously for a year averaged £3 14s 4d. Two men employed by another firm averaged £3 16s 10d over a period of 12 months. He contended that an inrreaso at present was not justified. The Court intimated that the application would be considered. The Auckland brewery and bottlinghouse workers (Mr. Martin) applied for an increase in the war bonus of 8s lOd a week. Mr. Martin said that in Canterbury an award was granted in July under which coopers were paid £3 7s 6d, and boltling-houso hands £2 17s 6d, plus a 10 per cent, war bonus. The present wages in Auckland were £2 15s to brewery and bottling-house labourers, £2 17s 6d to night cellarmen, and £3 to chilling-room [workers, plus a war bonus of 5s a week. The union asked that the war bonus be increased to 13s lOd a week to bring the wages paid into line with Canterbury. Mr. Wright, for the employers, opposed the application on the pround of the increased cost of materials and other expenses, owing to war conditions. The employees obtained their present award in May last, and it was unfair that they should • approach, the Court after so short a period with a demand for an increase in wages. The Cotirt reserved decision.