DISPUTED AWARD

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17229, 8 April 1930, Page 9

DISPUTED AWARD

TEAROOMS EMPLOYEES GIRL WORKERS’ RIGHTS (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. The hearing of the tearooms and restaurants portion of the dispute now before the Arbitration Court was concluded to-day. On tho Bench were His Honor Mr. Justico Frazer, Mr. W. Cecil Prime, employers’ representative, and Mr. A. L. Monteith, workers’ representative. Mr. S. E. Wright appeared as advocate for the employers and Mr. E. Kennedy for the employees. Mr. Wright submitted that the evidence supported the need of providing for learners in the kitchen, whose wages should he based on age and service. While the case was not strong for three years’ training in dining rooms, something more than six months, as at present, was required. lie suggested a probation period of 18 months for girls under 19, and 12 months for girls over 19. Mr. Kennedy said in regard' to tho training of girls the employers were not. so much concerned about training little girls, as getting them to work for N cheap wages. The court had not yet stated what should be a living wage for women workers, or laid down any principles for guidance where women workers in the industry were concerned. They asked for a living wage. “The principal consideration in arriving at this wage,” ho said, “should be the happiness, health and future of tho woman, which is of the utmost importance to the community. There should he a recognition of a woman’s permanent position in industry and commerce, instead of its being regarded as an episode in her life. The wages she is able to earn at any occupation should bo in accordance with a democratic community, and should bo sufficient for her to dress in a manner consistent with womanly dignity and self-respect, and to allow of her observing the unwritten law of her sex iri the change of fashions and seasons, and to allow her to haw a period of rest each year.”