FLAXMILL EMPLOYEES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14785, 18 March 1910, Page 5

FLAXMILL EMPLOYEES.

ARBITRATION AWARD. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, March 17. The award in the matter of the dispute between the Manawatu flaxmiil employees and liaxmillers was made to-day. The award provides for a 48-hour working week, the employer being entitled to arrange the hours according to the exigencies of iiis particular business. The usual provisions sire made for payment of overtime and holidays. Rates of pay were fixed as follow Feeders, Is 3d per hour; head paddockcrs, Is per hour; bench loaders, Is Id per hour; washers, Is Id iper hour; catchers, assistant paddoekers, sorters, and shakers, Is per hour; rous'abouts, iO|d per hour; drivers, £2 2s per week; stripper-keeper to 'receive not loss than 2s 6d per day, in addition to the wages paid to him in his principal capacity. Tile minimum rate for piecework paddocking is to be 23s 6d per ton from April 1 to September 30, and 20s per ton from October 1 to March 31, and when carting is done 5s per ton in addition to the foregoing rates, the minimum rate of pay for scutching to be £1 6s per ton. The rate for cutting flax shall be settled as heretofore by agreement between the employer and employee, also the wages of cooks and their assistants. Labour not otherwise specified shall be paid for at the rale of Is per hour. Wages of youths shall be: Prom 16 to 17 years, ' 15s a week; 17 to 18, £1 per week; 18 to 19, £1 5s per week; 19 to 20, £1 10s per week; and 20 to 21, £1 15s per week. Where food is provided by employers it shall be of good quality and sufficient in quantity, and workers shall not be. charged more than 15s per week for board. Special precautionary measures against smoking iji the swamp and in the proximity of dry fibre are to be taken; also conditions are laid down governing the employment of under-rate worknie.i, Such workers shall have theiv wages fixed by the Stipendiary Magis trato of t-ho district after due notice to the union. The customary preference clause is inserted in the award. The provisions of the award do not apply to the workers of the Native nice at J. G. Rutherford's Waverley Mill, nor the mil! oi Mr J. Burke, at Wairoa. In the event of new machinery being introduced into any flaxmiil, and any new process of manufacture being adopted which alters the nature or amount of work necessary in connection with any operation in the manufacture of hemp, the ratos of pay for sucb work shall be arranged by mutual agreement between the Employers' Association and the union. Failing such agreement, they shall be referred to the court for settlement. The award becomes operative on April 1 next, and remains in force to March 31, 1913