FLAX WORKERS' AWARD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22818, 27 August 1937, Page 13

FLAX WORKERS' AWARD

FORTY-FOUR-HOUR WEEK ESTABLISHING THE INDUSTRY [BY TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT] WELLINGTON. Thursday The judgment of the Court of Arbitration in the dispute between the Okinawatu Flaxmills and I'lax lextiles Employees' Union and New Zealand Woolpack aud Textiles, Limited, Foxton, has been announced. A 44-hour week is provided for. Adult male workers' wages are not to be less than 2s an hour, aud all workers on night shift aro to receive Is a shift extra. Youths' wages range from £1 a week for the first six months to £3 2?v 6d in the fifth year, with adult rates thereafter. Females' wages range from 16s to £2 /s 6d over tho same period. "Workers over 21 are to receive not less than the basic wage. A memorandum added by Mr. Justice o'Regan states that, as the company has made large losses, but is still endeavouring to establish this industry,- the Court has framed the award with as much elasticity as possible in order to preserve the interests of the employees without unduly hampering the efforts of tho company to establish an industry which should be of material benefit to the Dominion. It has, therefore, fixed the working hours at 41 and has taken all the special circumstances of the case into consideration in fixing tho rates of wages.