HIGH WAGES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24850, 23 March 1944, Page 6

HIGH WAGES

CASUAL WATERSIDERS

WOULD GO TO GASWORKS Five appeals by casual , waterside workers against tlioir direction as labourers to Kempt-borne, Prosser and Company, Limited, were heard by the Auckland Manpower* (Industrial) Committee yesterday. "I have been making about £l6 a week at the wharf," said one appellant, Walter Carey, who stated lie had five children. His wages at Kcmpthorne, Prosser, would be £4 19s 6d net for a. 40-hour week, and the firm could not guarantee overtime. Before working on the wharf he had earned £9 10s a week in his previous employment. He had assumed certain obligations while eaining high wages. "Where would you work if we allowed your appeal?" asked the chairman, Mr. .7, 0. Liddell.

"Obviously I want to stay down at tho wharf where the money is," replied appellant. "You cannot stay there; labour is needed in essential industry, and wharf work is only intermittent," said Mr. Liddell. On the suggestion of the manpower officer's representative. Mr. W. A. Leggett, who said that £ls a week could be earned at the Auckland Gas Company, Limited, appellant said he would lie willing to work there. Carey's appeal was allowed provided he took employment with the Gas Company. . Similar appeals by A. MacKay and R, W. King were adjourned for appellants to bo medically boarded, an appeal by V. Jurasovic was dismissed, and that of J. L. Dnra.n was adjourned for further investigation.

WATERFRONT WAGES RECIPROCAL LEND-LEASE CASE OF UNEARNED PAY (S.R.) WELLINGTON. Wednesday "The payment of all wages bv the United States authorities to waterside workers employed loading and discharging Army and Navy vessels is made under reciprocal lend-lease and is a charge on the New Zealand Wnr Expenses Account," stated the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, in a written reply to a question by Mr, K. ,T. Holyonke (Opposition—Pahiatua) regarding the payment of 8s 4d an hour to Auckland waersidcrs for work actually done by American soldiers. The Prime Minister said the sum of £l5O referred to was paid through the waterfront central pay office at Auckland on time sheets submitted by the United States Army Transport Service. The American authorities employed and supervised all labour at that port. The hourly rates of wages, as well as the decision to pay the watersiders for the period they wore replaced by soldiers, were the result of an agreement between the Watersiders' Union and the United States authorities, to which the Waterfront Commission was not a party. The American authorities in Auckland had been approached with a view to arranging that no further payments of this nature be made.

PREFERENCE FOR EX-SOLDIERS ADVICE FROM MINISTER (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday T1 is New Zealand He turned Services Association has been advised by the Minister of Rehabilitation, the Hon. C. F. Skinner, that the policy of the Waterfront Control Commission in regard to applications for employment on the waterfront is that special consideration should be given to applications from ex-servicemen and that waterfront controllers have been informed accordingly. The Minister added that he understood a similar principle was* applied in connection with applications to join the Tally Clerks' Union. APPEALS FAIL DECISION IN THREE CASES A CHEMIST'S EMPLOYMENT Three appeals heard by the.Auckland Manpower (Industrial) Committee on I uesday were dismissed in reserved derisions. An appeal by the medical officer of health at Auckland against the manpower officer's permission to terminate the employment of a chemist, J. T. Tosswill, who was employed in the pharmaceutical pricing department, was dismissed, Tosswill being required to remain with the department until April

The two other appeals dismissed were those of C. C. Corny ns against his direction to Seagar Brothers, Limited, as a fitter's mate, and of E. A. H. Shepherd against the manpower officer's refusal to terminate his employment with New Zealand Glass Manufacturers' Proprietary, Limited. TWO GIRLS FROM DUNEDIN CHANGE OF WORK REFUSED s Two girls who came from Dunedin on holiday and wished to remain in Auckland appealed to the Auckland Manpower (Industrial) Committee yesterday against the manpower officer's refusal to grant them termination of their employment with Kosyln Worsted and Woollen 31 i 1 Is, Dunedin. The appellants were Miss M. Cockroft and Aliss N. J. Laurenson. "You. are an absentee and are placing yourself in a very awkward position." said the chairman, Mr. J. 0. Liddell, to one appellant, "if you are allowed to leave like this we may have an exodus of girls from the Dunedin mills to Auckland." Appellant said they had the manpower officer's permission to take their present employment in Auckland. "They got permission for temporary employment while the position was investigated," said the manpower officer's representative, Mr. W. A. Leggett. "Their release is opposed more particularly as both are cases of flouting tlio manpower regulations," stated a communication received on behalf of the mills. Evidence of shortage of staff at the mills was given. Both appeals were dismissed.