DIVIDED OVER WAGES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18459, 24 July 1923, Page 9

DIVIDED OVER WAGES.

LOSSES THROUGH WEATHER. ARBITRATION: COURT. RULING MR. SCOTT, OPPOSES INCREASE. : A division of opinion among the members of the Arbitration Court on , the question of ,an increase of §d an . Horn' granted to carpenters and joiners and joiners' machinists, employed on outside work, to compensate for the loss of time, owing to weather conditions, and the upkeep of tools is revealed in the memorandum to the Dominion award in the carpenters and joiners' dispute, which was filed by the, Court yesterday. : : j " On the matter of wages," stated the memorandum, "the Court is divided in opinion, and Mr. Scott dissents from the judgment of the majority of the Court (Mr. Justice Frazer and Mr. H. Hunter) on that issue. The Court for some, years past has fixed a standard' rate for skilled workers, which now, after the necessary cost-of-living adjustments have been made, stands at 2s ljd an hour. It has, however, allowed an extra l£d per hour for bricklayers, stonemasons, and plasterers, principally because these workers lose more time through wet weather and other causes than the average skilled worker. The standard rate of 2s ljd an hour is, of , course, a casual rate, and : allows for a proportion of broken time. It also includes an allowance . for , the upkeep of tools, while recognising the principle that the worker himself is responsible for equipping himself for his work. Standard Bate Not Altered. " The majority of the Court, has come to the conclusion that the average carpenter ordinarily loses more through broken time, owing to weather conditions, than the average skilled worker, though not to the same extent as a bricklayer, stonemason, or . plasterer, and that the cost of upkeep of a carpenter's tools is a larger item than in the case of ; other skilled workers, and has been increased of- late , years in a greater ratio than the general cost of living. For these reasons* the majority of the Court has awarded carpenters on outside jobs £d per hour above the standard rate for skilled \vo~kflrs. We have retained the standard rate for those workers who are employed in woodwork factories.

" Wo desire to place it on record that it is not our intention in making this award to alter the . existing (standard rate for skilled workers, "but; that we have, for special reasons,. placed carpenters on outside jobs on a rate that bears a closer relation to that of bricklayers, stonemasons, and plasterers, than has obtained hitherto. Wo have not acceded to the request of the applicant association of workers to fix wages on the basis of the higher rates now ruling, for w6 consider that our duty is to ignore conditions brought about ;by a temporary increase in building activity,- and to* fix a fair minimum rate, having regard to the skill of the worker and the conditions of his employment. There is nothing to prevent workers and employers agreeing on higher rates for thoroughly competent workers, 0 or, for that . matter, for all workers; but our duty is to define a minimum, below which neither party may go."

Employers' Representative's Views.... Mr. ,Scot records his dissent, from the wages fixed by, the award for the following reasons :— , " (1) That, any increase in wages to these workers involves a from the Court's Gisborne • pronouncement, which . has hitherto been used as a basis for all wages; it placed all skilled workers on the highest plane, and has proved of incalculable benefit to workers and employers alike. , " (2) That the present wages already i compensate for broken time, and that no evidence was tendered before the Court to justify ,- any - -further compensation. Painters and ; builders and general labourers have more broken time than carpenters and joiners. " (3) The fact that carpenters and johsers have to provide their own stools is one which has always been taken into consideration in fixing the • wages for this class of work. This was admitted by Mr. Bloodworth, the union's advocate, who stated that when the wages were raised .from Is to Is 6d in 1914, the.extra money was given in consideration for the •upkeep of tools. The fact that other skilled workers have since had their! wages raised to the . same level is not a reason why the wage of these workers should be still further increased. " (4) It is admitted that subsequent to the war all tools have greatly increased in price, but there is no evidence to show that the present prices will always remain so high'. If anything, the evidence -was to the contrary. To vary wages in accordance with* the market prices of tools would, in »y opinion, be a risky experiment, and in the end lead to unwonted friction. No Benefit to Good Workers. " (5) I am also of the opinion that th« increase in wages will- only benefit the slow and inefficient worker, as the good workman can, and, as a mater of fact, does, command & much higher rate than that fixed by the award. The award fixes a minimum rate only, and it is being treated as ' such by the employers to-day. " (6) The fact that carpenters and joiners are: being' especially singled out from the other skilled 1 trades is not only in opposition to thy Court's Gisborne pronouncement but is y j at variance with a well-considered judgment of the Court, which is recorded in Book of Awards, Volume XXIII, p. ; 386, and Which reads as: follows':— The - cost of ! tools is borne by ; workers in other skilled trades, and the Court cannot find any justification for making any distinction between carpenters and joiners and tha workers in other trades.' "