ARBITRATION COURT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11962, 13 December 1919, Page 5

ARBITRATION COURT.

THE BONUS QUESTION.

Per Press Association,

Dunedin, Dec 12

Recently the Arbitration Oonrt was supplied -with figures from the Government Statistician which went to show that owing to the increased cost of clothing, fuel and light, workers were entitled to receive another penny per hour by way of compensating bonus. As there is no machinery by which the Court can make orders amending awards throughout New Zealand, it directed unions in all proper c!;ses to apply individually for this bonus to which they are entitled. At the close of the. sitting of the Arbitration Court to-day, Mr L. F. Evans, Union Secretary, asked if it was necessary in making these applications to comply strictly with the regulations by taking a ballot of members.

His Honor, Mr Justice Stringer, said the Court did not want to put the unions to any needless expense, and he did not consider that it was necessary to take a ballot. So long as the application was confined to the bonus in question, a resolution passed by a union would be sufficient authority, and would be accepted by the Court. “ The Court has'decided to bring the bonus into force on January Ist. Any union making application after that date will be entitled to receive retrospective payment.