THE BONUS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10964, 28 July 1921, Page 7

THE BONUS

STEWARDS ASK INCREASE DISTURBING EFFECT ON COST OF LIVING. JUDGE REFUSES APPLICATION. His Honour, Mr Justice Frazer, has filed his judgment in an application by the New Zealand <-Marine Cooks ana Stewards, heard by him in Dumedm last week. ~ „ . ~ "This is an application for a further cost of living bonus/’ said His Honour* Mr Justice Frazer, in his , judgment. "The court has granted the stewards the cost of living. bonuses heretofore declared by it, and cannot grant the further bonus applied for as the effect oi such a grant would be to increase the wages without reference to the cost of living. "The basis of the application is the new rates recently awarded by the tralian Court, and this is not a relative consecration/ under the War Lepslation and Statute Daw Amendment Act, 1918. HIGHER THAN AUSTRALIAN RATES/’ "It has to- be* borne in mind that, &ince November, 1920, the New Zealand award, with bonuses, gave higher rates than the Australian award, and the Australian rates, which are now higher than those in New Zealand, are liable to be reduced under the Australian legislation at a date earlier than that on which the New Zealand rates are likely to be reconsidered. . . , "An award, once made, is intended to be a settlement for a definite period of the maf-ters in dispute, and, can. be amended only in strict accordance with the provision of the law. _ .• "The application i® dismissed. HOURS AND OVERTIME. "NO POWER TO AMEND AWARD.” An application, was also made to amend the award for'the galley staff, made on May 27th, in respect of hours of work and overtime. The application was based on the Australian award, and His Honour repeated his remarks in regard to the condition® not being relevant. "In. any event,” eaid His Honour, "certain provisions in the Australian award, relative to "tropical conditions, could not be of general application to New Zealand. Further, the court ha® no power to amend an award under the War Degislation and Statute Daw Amendment Act, 1918, unless it was satisfied ae to the existence of a change an circumstances since the award was made. In the present case, the award was only a few weeks old, and there had been no change in tfio conditions affecting the industry. On the other hand, slackness of business had caused a number of vessels to be laid up.” i The application was also dismissed.