THE FREEZING INDUSTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3808, 8 March 1927, Page 23

THE FREEZING INDUSTRY.

INCREASES IN WAGES. THE COURT’S MEMORANDUM. CHRISTCHURCH, March 4. An important memorandum, signed by Mr Justice Frazer, president of the Arbitration Court, has been issued by the court. It increases the wages in the freezing industry. It concludes: “I am satisfied that to refuse an increase of Id per hour to the lower-paid time workers in the freezing works would bring them below the standard fixed by the past award, and by the court's pronouncement in 1925 they are entitled to an increase of Id per hour, bringing their rate up to 2s Id per hour, which, it should be noted, is less by l|d than the rate conceded by the companies in 1920-21. I do not think that the more highly paid time workers are entitled to the same increase as the minimum workers. They are entitled to an increase of 4d per hour in some cases, and Jd per hour in others. “In so far as the slaughtermen are concerned, an increase of 2s 6d per 100 is not justified, though it has been granted by the Auckland companies; but I think that an increase of Is fid per 100 will place the slaughtermen iu the same rela-

tivc position in reference to time worker? as they occupied under the last award. This will make the rates 40s per 100 foi sheep, and 37s 6d per 100 for lambs; oi 44J per cent, and 33J per cent, respectively above the 1914 rates.”