ARBITRATION COURT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13845, 7 March 1907, Page 7

ARBITRATION COURT

(Per United Press Association.) CHRTSTCHURCH, March 6. At llio sitting of the Arhitrn Lion Court-to-day an agreement between the Cliristeliurch Rattan and Wicker-workers' Association and the union was adopted by tbo court as an award. The principal terms of the agreement were: —Honrs of work, W per week; minimum wage, Is 2d per hour; 110 piecework permitted; ovortimo to be paid (it tlm rate of time and aquarter for l.lie first throe hours and time awl a-lialf after; double time on Sundays. Tlio number of apprentices is limited, and ihe wages of apprentices fixed at from 5s for tho first year to 25s for the fifth year; and proforenco of employment to unionists is granted. An application for a fresh award in accordaneo with tho terms of an agreement arrived at between tho Clothing Manufacturers of tho colony and the Tailoresses' T'niou was also niado to the Arbitration Court to-day. After referring to precedents, tho president of the court said (lie court would make an award in accordance with tho agreement, as it seemed to have been Uio -practice in oilier cases. The award would date from llio 3rd of April next, and would lie in force for two years. Tho terms of the new award are mainly as follows; —Costume workers are provided for: wages of apprentices to bo £1 per week for the first year, £1 5s fov the first six months of the second year, and £1 10s for iho second six months; apprenticeship to be for two years (it was only for one year previous!?) in all branches: two years' improvorship. wages to rango from 5s per week to 22s 6d for the lost six months of the improvorship; minimum wage £1 ss; • pressors' minimum wage, £2 15s (instead of £2 10s); costume workers minimum Tato. £1 2s 6d for the first, year of currency of tho award, and £1 5s after that; preference also to be granted to unionists.