HIGHER PAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23487, 26 October 1939, Page 13

HIGHER PAY

LOCAL BODY AWARD PENNY AN HOUR MORE DISSENT BY MR./ PRIME ■ THE NORTHERN DISTRICT Tlio new award-for borough council,, town board, harbour board and- power board employees in the Northern industrial district, issued by the Arbitration Court yesterday, provides for an increase in the minimum rate of pay from 2s 4d an hour, or £i 8s 4d a week, to 2s 5d and £4 lis 4d. This increase forms the subject of a memorandum of dissent from the employers' representative, Mr. W. Cecil Prime. Tlio matters referred to the Court at the hearing were wages, including classification, annual holiday and terra of the award. "As to wages," states the Judge of the Court, Mr. Justice O'Regan, in an attached memorandum, "the majority of the Court consider that regard must be had to the rates prevailing elsewhere, particularly as they have been, practically without exception, arrived at by agreement; indeed, in this respect the Court is confronted with a situation similar to that obtaining in Mr. Justice Frazer's day, referred to in his memorandum to the New Plymouth Boroujgh Council labourers' award." ' l ■ I - Bates in the South His Honor quoted the corresponding, wage rates prevailing in various southern districts. "The, Northern industrial district," he said, "comprises virtually half the total area of tho North Island, is the most populous and opulent portion of the country, and hence it cannot be unreasonable that the wage of local bodies' labourers therein should approach consistency with those obtaining elsewhere. Accordingly tho minima prescribed in this instance are 2s Sd an hour and a. weekly wage of £4 lls 4,3." The evidence adduced was insufficient to warrant a new classification being attempted, His Honor said. The Court had added a clause, however, providing for extra payment for'any foreman or ganger placed in charge of four or more workers. In,the matter of the annual holiday the Court saw 110 reason for any extension beyond that generally ordained by awards affectiDg local bodies elsewhere. Earlier Pronouncement "I dissent strongly from the decision to increase the minimum rates of wages payable to workers covered by this award," said Mr. Prime. "Following the anomalies in rates of wages which became payable as a result of tho 1936 legislation introducing a 40-hour week the Court in September, 1937, after an exhaustive hearing, made a pronouncement as to the standard minimum rates of hourly wages it would fix in future awards.

"During the following month, on October 14, 1937, the Court made an award covering the workers now tinder consideration, and therein fixed Jaiinimum rates of wages in accordance with its pronouncement. Now a majority has decided further to increase the rates then fixed, oil the grounds that certain local bodies in other parts of New Zealand have agreed to similar increases.

"Political Considerations" "It is unfortunately true that agreements or awards made between a union and local bodies appear often to be largely _ influenced by political considerations. Local bodicl, too, are free from the dire compulsion which attaches to the private employer to pay his way or perish. In. this case, those local bodies which are endeavouring to protect their ratepayers against the increases in rates which almost in-? evitably follow wage increases are to be compelled to follow other bodies which have been induced to agree to rates higher than laid down by the Court as fair and reasonable. In . my opiuiou the Court should adhere to the standards fixed bv it according to its own pronouncements, irrespective of what is agreed upon by any one section - of employers." ; . • . The award is to continue in force from October 30, .1939, to October 30, 1941. ' '