THE PLUMBERS' AWARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18214, 7 November 1922, Page 4

THE PLUMBERS' AWARD.

♦ WAGES AND PREFERENCE. APPLICATION BY EMPLOYEB^ An application for a new award gown* A,;| ing the Auckland plumbing industry wm y J made by the Master Plumbers' Association before the Arbitration Court day, Mr. Justice 'Fnuser presided. Mr.*. S. -Wright appeared for the employer*,.Mi u| Mr. J. Clark for the union. ; .. ' Mr. Wright stated that the exirttnf agreement had been reached in condJß^ j tion, proceedings about two years os*? ;''.-. njntual preference being on© of the oKrf' * clauses. In consideration of the union , guaranteeing, preference to members of the association, lsd an hour extra "»■» ! granted. Preference not having worked :: out asithe employers had expected, a netr award embodying the Court's ordinary ~ preference clauise, and the ordinary nti i-jl-of 2s 2Jd an hour for skilled workers wrt J: % being sought. It was also asked that an' 'fp; registered men should be paid 2d an Iwnr : ;jy less than registered workers and that re- •'. ,j:, v ductions should be mad© in the rates for i overtime, country work, and apprentices. :';,. Evidence in support was given by Messrs. M§o; F. V HoiTman <and 3. B. King, it htint . asserted that the union had made use M the preference clause to lever up wages by promoting competition between OMWWT ) ■'■;.-■■■ plumbers and builders. For the union, Mr. Clark Baid that plumbing was the most highly skilled ; : 4-' trade, the apprenticeship of six years, instead of the usual term of five years, justi* , '-, fying higher waf;es. He controverted th« „. ■ assertion that the union had misused the , preference clause, the natural law of supply and demand biting responsible for the ',' . award rates of wages having bees ex- " : iceeded. He referred to the fact that ajp- '.ij prentices bad to take courses at technics! schools to qualify for the registration er-. . ;;' - amination. No evidence for We union wil fej|| brought forward. :-^ The Court reserved its ;*{" 5