TEN PER CENT CUT

Southland Times, Issue 21429, 25 June 1931, Page 7

TEN PER CENT CUT

TALLY CLERKS APPLY FOR EXEMPTION. (Per United Press Association.) s Christchurch, June 24. The tally clerks employed at Lyttelton

applied to the Arbitration Court to-day for exemption from the wages cut. The special ground on which application was' made was that the casual nature of the work warranted exemption and the imposition of the reduction would cause undue hardship. • Counsel for the union said that from various causes, including bulk importation of petrol, the work available for tally clerks had declined. After taking into consideration deductions from wages the average amount paid to tally clerks was £2 6/10 weekly. Counsel for the employers said that the casual nature of the employment and undue hardship had been already argued in Wellington. The picture had been painted a little too black. The weekly average wage this year was £3 11/10 over all. After argument between the advocates his Honour said the average weeklj' wage this year was £2 11/1. Judgment was reserved.

HARBOUR BOARD’S SAVING. Wellington, June 24. Adopting a resolution passed at a special meetjng held on June 16, the Wellington Harbour Board this evening authorized a general and uniform reduction of 10 per cent, in all salaries and wages of employees. The chairman, Mr Norwood, during the discussion, said it was estimated that the revenue of the port would be something like £30,000 down for the year. The wage cut would effect a saving of £20,000.