BOOT TRADE DISPUTE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10852, 18 March 1921, Page 5

BOOT TRADE DISPUTE

THfl BASIC WAGE: POSITION OF ARBITR ATION COURT

F»B PRKPB AR«nrUTinv. DUNEDES. March. 17.

In the New Zealand Federated Boot Trades -dispute and ah application for a Dominion -a ward, recently heard in Auckland, the Arbitration Court has been unable to fix -the new rates of wages. In referring the matter back to the parties for a conference, the Court filed a memorandum, which says:—“ln tbo absence of any suggested scheme of classification, it has been found impossible to arrive at a conclusion without doing an injustice to the employers or the highly skilled workers. If a. high ha-sic wage is fixed for all workers, employers must suffer through paying that rate to less skilled workers, and if a low basic rato is fixed for all workers the highly skilled workers will not receive fair treatment.” The memorandum adds: —“In view of the pressure of competition from ouitside New Zealand, it appears to be highly desirable that a semous attempt should be made to stabilise conditions on a scientific and equitable basis.” The court suggests as a basis for discussions at the conference n, study of the classification of the bootmanufacturing industry prepared by the Efficiency Board in 1917. The court wilt be prepared to receive the report of the parties at Christchurch on April sth.