CARPENTERS AND JOINERS

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14091, 24 March 1939, Page 5

CARPENTERS AND JOINERS

DOMINION DISPUTE. Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, March 23. When the claim for an award 111 the carpenters’ and joiners’ Dominion dispute was continued uo-.iay, the case lor tlio employers was put by Mr W. J. Mount joy. The woikers claim £6 a week and the employers c-ffer 2s 6d an hour. Mr Mountjoy said that the requests for the alterations to wages were definitely opposed by the employers. Builders could not allow for working losses caused by bad weather. and if the change asked for was made, the increased costs would have to come' out of the pocket of the builder. In the building trade it \va s essential that costs should be kept as stable as possible*. The Court had fixed a standard rate as a guide and applicants would have to prove special circumstances if they were to go beyond that. If the rates were increased production would be restricted. Mr Mount joy submitted that the position of the Dominion was not. as sound to-day as in September, ~937, when the standard minimum was fixv 1 and quoted figures in support of this. There was nothing to justify the Court in increasing costs, hut on tti- contrary hr uubmittecL.t>ie Court might consider rath r than incrcadng them.