EXEMPTION CASES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23748, 30 August 1940, Page 12

EXEMPTION CASES

CLAIMS BEFORE COUET THE DRIVERS' UNION [by TELEGRArH PitKSS ASSOCIATION*] WELLINGTON, Thursday An application for complete exemption from the general order increasing award wages by 5 per cent was made to the Court of Arbitration to-day by the Now Zealand Motor and Horse Drivers' Union of Employers. The application was based on the grounds that the employers were precluded from passing on any portion of the increase in overhead caused by the order. It was also contended that for the workers employed on a 44-hour week an award had granted an increase in wages of 5 per cent less than three •months ago, and there had been 110 increase in the cost of living or any other circumstances in that period to justify the granting of any further increase.

A similar application was made by the New Zealand taxi drivers employers' organisation. The grounds were that an award was made less than three nionths ago and there was no justification for increasing the wages then fixed by the Court, because the wages were fair taking into account the wages then being paid, the nature of the work, the amount of idle time and the .effect of unregulated competition. Any increase in wages would seriously prejudice the futuro of the industry. . It was contended that the financial position of the industry made it impossible to carry any further increases in overhead without increases in price, which were hot practicable. ✓ Both applications were opposed by the workers' organisations and decision was reserved in both cases.