COST OF LIVING

Southland Times, Issue 19517, 17 May 1922, Page 5

COST OF LIVING

THE BONUS REDUCTION. (Per United Press Association.) DUNEDIN, May 16. Some ambiguity seems to exist as to how' the bouus cut will operate on weekly wages when only part of the week is worked. Dunedin employers take the view that if a man on weekly wages works only part of a week the cut will be calculated on the hours worked.

WAGES REDUCTION AT CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH. May 16. The bonus reduction promises to be fairly general in Christchurch. In the following cases a decision to reduce wages has been come to: ironmasters, cartage contractors sawmillers, clothing manufacture's, retail shops, coach and motor body builders, hairdressers, bakers, and Aulsebrook and Company. Questioned to-day regarding a report that shearers and freezing works employees are taking a ballot on the question of action in the bonus reduction matter, Mr F. C. Ellis, secretary of the Slaughtermen’s and Allied Trades Union, said nothing was available for publication at present. The men employed at Borthwick’s works at Belfast say that no reduction has yet been made, and as the season will last only another month it is likely that a reduction will not be made this season. UMBER PRICES REDUCED. CHRISTCHURCH, May 16. At a meeting of the Sawmillera Employers’ Union it was resolved to observe the Arbitration Court’s bonus order and to reduce the price of milling timbers by the equivalent of per cent. TROUBLE AT FREEZING WORKS GISBORNE, May 16. The employees of the Tokomaru Bay Freezing Company notified the manager tonight that they would refuse to accept the wages reduction in accordance with the Arbitration Court’s pronouncement. They gave notice that if the provision applied to them they would cease work from midnight to-night. The manager states that if this attitude is persisted in the works will close down. They itill only keep open till the end of week in any caaa,