COST OF LIVING

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10546, 24 March 1920, Page 5

COST OF LIVING

GOAGHBUILDERS' WAGES INTERESTING DISCUSSION AT CONCILIATION 'COUNCIL. Mr W. H. Nowton, Conciliation Commissioner, presided over a sitting of tho Conciliation Council yesterday morning, when tho Wellington Coachbuilders' Industrial Union of Workers discussed its dispute with the employers' representatives. The assessors for the employees wero Messrs C. Carter, C. Burnett, and E. A. Toomatli, and for the employers Messrs A. J. Bhtck. T. A. Munt, and E. H. Tay. lor. In opening the proceedings, tho Commissioner said that a conference waff held at Auckland about ten days ago»between representatives of the employees and omployers, and it was then decided that iho points agreed upon should Jorm the basis of a Dominion award. Practically th o only thing loft unsettled were the. rate* "t wages and tho preference clause. Tho Commissioner: ,1» thoro any prospect of coming to an. agreement as to wages to-day P Mr Black: We cannot go ngninat what was done at Auckland in respect to tho offer that was mado them

Mr Burnett-. The employers are Jn a similar position, and must support thoir representatives' action at Auckland. ■ ■ . Mr Toomath: How is it that the plumbers got a good offer? They got 2s 3d per hour: Arc we not as good tradesmen as the plumbers? .

Mr Black : Plum'bers have to pass an examination which insure* a certain standard of efficiency, «md, the coachbuilders have no such standard. Mr Toomath: The coaohbuiklt-rt have a class. of efficiency. If a man eoes into a shop and ia hot efficient the emnloyer knows what to do. Mr Black: An oldorly man may bo employed. He is only able to do wheelwright work and cannot be entrusted with motor-car work, yet ho is expected to (ret tho higher rate of Swages. According to Mr toomath, the employees want to fix a maximum Mr' Tbcmath: Surely coachbuilders pay men employed on motor-oar work a higher rate of than the award. The wage in the plumbers' award was the minimum.-not the maximum. Mr Munt stated that tho employers could not make nn offer outsido of that already submitted, and tho mattor would havo to bo left to the Arbitration Court to determine. Mr Black: The wage offered is practically the sa'mo as that ruling in other trades. Mr Toomath: Tt amounts to £4 10s Id per week. Mr' Black: Whnt has been offered ia tantamount, to 60 per cent, on tho oro-war rate. Mr Toomath : The cost of living has gone uo over 100,per cent. Mr Black: Such is not tho case, according to the figures submitted by tho Government Statistician. Mr Toomath: '.Como down the street with me and you will soon seo that what I say is correct. Mr Carter: Mr Justice Stringer. »n his report, said that the coßt of living had risen over 100 per cent. Mr Toomath: I havo been away «* the war for four years, and I find, on mv return, that wages have not jumped to any extent over pre-war rates. Mr Black: Thoy have risen from £3 10s (3d to £4 10s, which is equivalent to a 33 1-3 per cent, advance. Mr Toomey: Compare -that with tho price of clothing to-day and the extent to which the prices of tools have jumped. *. - As there was no likelihood of an agreement being come to, it was eventually resolved to leave, the question of wages for the court ito decide. Mr Burnett mentioned that the City Council employed men doing coaoh* builders' work. An olbjection had not been lodged against tho City Council being joined as parties to. the award, and ho presumed it would come under it. Ho objected to the corporation being granted an exemption. Commissioner stated that the City Council could Apply for exempt tion when tho dispute came before the Arbitration Court. Jj&: