DISSENT RECORDED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22949, 29 January 1938, Page 18

DISSENT RECORDED

WAGES AND HOURS UNJUSTIFIED INCREASES MR. ANDERSON'S COMMENT'" "I disagree with the hours of work, weekly wage for permanent hands and head storemen, wages of boys anil thp extra payment, for workers employed classing wool and rabbit skins," stated Mr. W. E. Anderson, employers' member of tho Second Court of Arbitration, in a memorandum attached to tho award made for the wool, grain, hides and manure stores employees. "At tho hearing tho employers, in niy opinion, proved conclusively that a working week of 44 hours spread over five and a-half days of the week is necessary in tho stores covered by this award," continued Mr. Anderson. "The workers' unions evidently recognised that it is impracticable to carry on this industry efficiently on a 40-hour week, beeauso they did not apply in 1936 to have tho hours reduced to 40 A week, and agreed to tho 44-hour five and ahalf day week being repeated in thw award made in 1937. Employers Charged Twice "In tho last award the weekly wage for permanent hands was increased from £4 os a week to £4 14s a week, principally to compensate tho workers for continuing to work 44 hours a week. Under this award a permanent hand •working for 44 hours in a week will receive £4 12s Gd for 40 hours plus ordinary rates in addition for four hours worked on Saturday morning, making a total weekly wago of £5 Is 9d. "It appears that tho workers sold a 41-hour week to tho employers in the 1937 award when wages were increased by slightly more than a ratio of 44 to 40. The Court by again increasing wages by 44 to 40 in this award has charged the employers a second time for tho same thing. The wage increase to £5 Is 9d for a 44-hour week in my opinion is therefore quite ■unjustified. Other Wage Increases

"The extra rate payable to workers engaged in classing wool or rabbit skins has been increased from 2d to 4d an hour. This increase cannot bo justified on tho evidence given at the hearing, particularly in tho case of classing rabbit skins.

"The wages of boys have been increased by 2s 6d a week on an average, and a boy employed for 44 hours will receive an additional four hours' pay. The total increase, therefore, ranges from an average of about 2s 3d in the early years to 8s 9d a week in the case of a boy between 20 and 21 years of age. In my opinion these increases are unjustified. "The wage fixed for a working head storeman in charge of five or more other storemen will amount to £6 Is 9d for a 44-hour week. This class of work carries little or no responsibility and tho wage fixed is out of all proportion to that of charge hands under other awards, and in my opinion is far too high."