WOOL AND GRAIN WORKERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23365, 3 December 1937, Page 10

WOOL AND GRAIN WORKERS

APPLICATION FOR AWARD

ARBITRATION COURT PROCEEDINGS (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, Dec. 2. ' Higher wages and shorter hours were sought in the application of the wool, grain, hide, and manure stores’ employees for awards heard by the Second Arbitration Court. Employees in the Northern Taranaki, Wellington, Nelson, Marlborough, Otago, and Southland districts were joined in one dispute, the Canterbury application being separate. Mr Justice Hunter presided. The workers, except those in the Canterbury district, were represented by Mr W. Brotherson, of Sydney. Mr P. Butler appeared for the Canterbury workers and Mr D. 1. Macdonald, secretary of the Canterbury Employers’ Association, for all the employers, Mr Brotherson said that the workers in the combined districts were seeking a 40-hour week, to be worked from Monday to Friday inclusive. The wages claimed were 2s 9d an hour for casual workers and £5 7s 6d for permanent hands. The employers offered the present award rates of 2s 2d for casuals and £4 14s for permanent hands. The unions asked that head storemen and wool-classers should receive not less than £6 10s a week. Mr Brotherson continued. They also sought additional rates for workers employed in objectionable and dirty work and an annual holiday of 14 days on full pay for all workers after 12 months’ continuous service.

The employers were prepared to accept the established conditions, Mr Macdonald said, and in their counterproposals they suggested a continuance of the existing award, subject, of course, to any adjustments in wages which the court might think necessary. Any change in the conditions would mean an alteration in the service built up over many years. On the one hand, it would tend to disturb the efficiency of that service, and on the other hand to increase the costs to the farmer clients, thus reducing their margin of profit on their year’s workings. “The present wage for permanent hands is £4 14s per week.” Mr Macdonald said. “It was agreed to last year and is an increase of 9s per week over the wage which operated in 1929. We submit that there is no justification to-day for any further Increase in wages. There is nothing in the cost of living figures to justify an increase beyond the 192 d to 1930 standard.” Referring to the hours. Mr Macdonald said that the second schedule of the Factories Act recognised the impracticability of imposing a 40-hour week on many -industries associated with primary industries. Evidence was called to show that a 44-hour week was necessary in the industry and that overtime was essential in season.