RADIO WORKERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22949, 29 January 1938, Page 19

RADIO WORKERS

CLAIM FOR AWARD NEW ZEALAND INDUSTRY OVERSEAS COMPETITION The hearing of the claims of radio workers of the Northern Industrial District for an award was completed yesterday beforo the Arbitration Court, presided over by Mr. Justice O'Regan. Mr. K. Simpson appeared for the union and Mr. H. J. Bishop for the employers. Continuing his evidence for the employers, DaviH Clifton Jones, manager of Radio -(1936), Limited, said it would take about three days to train a bench assembler for his job. The 25 per cent exchange rate was no protection for New Zealand manufacturers. They had to get their materials from England and America, and in England the wages were far lower than in Now Zealand.

In answer to Mr. Simpson fitness said the profits of his company last year were £IB,OOO on a subscribed capital of £52,000. These profits, he said, were due to tho company's successful methods of selling and could not bo taken as typical of tho radio industry in New Zealand. The future of tho industry was very uncertain, said witness. There was extensive competition from England, the United States and Australia, but the industry had failed to secure any protection.

V. R. Johns, of Johns, Limited, said it would be impossible to admit apprentices to tho trade at present. Ho was very pessimistic about the future of radio manufacturing in New Zealand ou account of tho overseas competition.

In opposing the elimination of Saturday work Mr. Johns said the public was most impatient when it wanted a set installed, and if Saturdays were mndo holidays it would not be long before their employees would be competing against them at the week-ends on account of pressure from the public. Witness objected to the use of the term radio "technician," because of the confusion that would result from the same men being called "servicemen" in Government documents and examinations and "technicians" elsewhere. __

The Court reserved its decision.