WAGES IN 1931

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19139, 7 October 1936, Page 4

WAGES IN 1931

HOURLY RATE OF PAY METHOD OP ASSESSMENT CONFLIFTING VIEWS Jl is possible that the 'official interpretation on the method of assessing tlie hourly rate of pay in the restoration of the 1931 standard of wages will be tested very soon by local bodies and others affected, a strong body oi legal opinion holding that the view on the subject taken by the Minister ot Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, is contrary to the wording of the Act. Apart from the legal aspect, it is considered that the Ministerial interpretation places some sections of workers in a much more favourable position than others, causing anomalies tlial are likely to be the source of considerable discontent among employees. The Minister of Labour, and the former Auckland Conciliation Commissioner, Mr. P. Ilally, in the Auckland Gas Company’s dispute with its workers, have held that if in 1931 the hours of work were, say, 48 a week, and are now 40, it is necessary to increase the 1931 hourly rate so as to provide that the weekly earnings shall not be less than they were in 1931.

TWO SECTIONS OF LABOURERS

The Ministerial interpretation makes a big disparity between the wages ol general and local body labourers. In 1031 general labourers worked 44 hours a week at Is lOd an hour. Generally speaking, local body labourers worked 47 hours a week at Is lid an hour, the extra Id an hour being allowed in Conciliation Council proceedings by consent of the employers. It is stated that the point that local body labourers should receive Id an hour more has never been argued before the Court ol Arbitration, which has merely confirmed Conciliation Council agreements.

The reduction in hours from 44 to 40 gives general labourers 2s OJd an hour on the 1931 basis, but for local body labourers a reduction from 47 hours a week (o 40 makes the hourly rate 2s 3d, a rate which some local bodies are paying. Others claim that it should not bo more than 2s ljd, in any case. Claims for new awards are now filed, so it is possible that difficulties may be overcome when the court fixes the rates. It is worthy of note that in instances recently, the court has fixed rates for some sections of workers that are actually below the 1931 rates.