TIMBER WORKERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22412, 7 May 1936, Page 12

TIMBER WORKERS

INCREASED WAGES THREE MONTHS' AGREEMENT HOURS UNALTERED AT PRESENT [BY TETiKORAPII —PRESS ASSOCIATION] PALMKRSTON NORTH. Wednesday Substantial increases in wages for those engaged in the timber industry in most parts of the North Island are assured as the result of conciliation proceedings concluded to-day. Application is to be made, to the Arbitration Court for an award incorporating rates virtually on the 19.31 level of wages. The principle of a 40-hour week is not incorporated in the agreement reached, which, however, is to be binding only for three months. During that term the hours observed during the past 12 months will remain o]x>rativo. This in the majority of cases is 40 in town timber yards and 48 at country sawmills. After throe months the employees anticipate that the new legislation 1 will be operative applying a 40-hour week and a new award may then be sought accordingly. The wage rates agreed on were on the basis of an all-round increase of >d an hour over the schedule submitted by the employers at the outset. This represents a minimum of Is lOd an hour for labourers, rising to 2s Id for machinists. The employers also agreed to increase by 5s a week their proposed rates for juvenile labour. The new rates will operate from June 1, while the other terms are binding for three months from the date of the fixing of the award by the Court.