PAYMENT OF OVERTIME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18632, 13 February 1924, Page 12

PAYMENT OF OVERTIME.

CARPENTERS' AWARD. MEANHSfGr GF A CLAUSE. interpretation sought. [by TELEGH-irn.— ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday. If a -worker is receiving more than the minimum rate of wages how is his overtime to be computedon the minimum rate, or on his actual wages? On this question the Arbitration Court, was asked to give a ruling. The application concerned the dominion Carpenters and Joiners' Award. The clause in question reads: '"Ail work done outside and in excess of the hours mentioned shall count as overtime and shall be paid for at- the rate of time and a-half for the first four hours, and double time thereafter." Mr. E. Sutclilie, on behalf of the employees, opposed the application on two grounds. Firstly- that the matter had been already dealt with; secondly, that the manner in which the matter had been brought before the Court was objected to Mr. T. G. Fielder, inspector of awards, Christchurch, said the department had brought the case before the Court because it was of Dominion interest. It was a particular case and the department wished a binding ruling. Mr. Sutcliffe's objections were not sustained bv the Court. Mr. B." L. Hammond, for the employers, submitted that the amount of pay given to workers in addition to the minimum was a gratuity given, by the employer and had nothing* to do with overtime. He quoted many judgments of the Arbitration Court in support of that. view. The Court fixed only a minimum rate of pay and the overtime clause had reference only to that. The workers were paid extra wages in the industry because of the s':ate of the labour market. It- was unfair surely thf>t they should receive extra overtime. Mr. Suteliffe argued for the payment of overtivo on actual rates of pay. The extra payment to some men, he said, was not a gratuity; it was payment for -a higher grade of work performed, Therefore it was not fair that the better man should receive the same rate of overtime a3 the lower paid man. Mr. C. Renn pointed out tho importance of the matter to other ..awards. The Court's decision would -affect all other awards. Mr. Justice Frszer: Yes. "We have that fact fully in mind. We' have known for some time that a case of this kind would come up. The employers and workers can rest a sure a that we will give the matter our . erv careful consideration. Decision will be reserved.