SPARE-TIME OCCUPATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19144, 9 October 1925, Page 13

SPARE-TIME OCCUPATIONS.

APPLYING THE BASIC WAGE. COURT OUTLINES POSITION. The principle affirmed by trade union- ! ists that the Arbitration Court should increase wages automatically to an extent commensurate with the increased cost of living was discussed yesterday by Mr. Justice Frazer daring the hearing of the dispute filed by the New Zealand Performing Musicians' Association. Mr. C. Renn, advocate for the association, in referring to the fact that musicians performing at theatres and other evening entertainments, were engaged in other occupations during the day, contended this was uo reason why a living wage should not be paid for evening work. The musicians should not be paid less because they were engaged at other employment during the day. Mr. Justice Frazer said they had to look at the facts fairly. The musicians' work was a spare-time occupation. In the circumstances he could not see how a living wags could be provided for it. On the" other hand he would not think of making the wages less on account of the nature of the occupation. Payment for services rendered should apply. The increase of 62 per cent, to the basic wage would be very difficult to apply all round. , „ . t ~ ~ It had taken the Court a considerable time to decide that the industries in the Dominion could stand the basic wage. There were many classes of employment in which the increase of 62 per cent, was not being made. He would be content to take the increase himself, but knew it could not be done. The cost of the war had to be borne by soma sections of the community, and the basic wageearners had been relieved of that responsibility. , His Honor added that the musicians enraged in other daily occupations«had received the 62 per cent, increase in respect to their daily work. They could hardly expect to get it in their sparetime occupation. Mr. S. E. Wright, who appeared for the employers, stated that one member of the union was a manufacturer whose income last year was £2OOO. His hobby was playing at the picture theatre.