RECENT WAGE INCREASE

Southland Times, Issue 24769, 13 June 1942, Page 4

RECENT WAGE INCREASE

Employers To Bring Test Case

(P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 12. A case may be brought shortly to test whether the recently granted wage increase applies to workers under awards irrespective of whether they are receiving a greater amount than this already above their award rate. Meanwhile, Mr Justice Tyndall has apparently declined to hear a test case in the Arbitration Court. A statement to this effect has been made by the secretary of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation, Mr D. I. Macdonald.

Some doubt still existed, Mr Macdonald said, about the interpretation of the general order of the Arbitration Court whereby a 5 per cent, increase was granted on the first £5, £2/10/-, or 30/- a week respectively for males, females and juniors. The. doubt lay in whether this should be paid to workers under awards already receiving more than this amount beyond the award rate. The Crown Law Office had ruled that all workers must receive the payment. The Employers’ Federation then immediately put in train, with the knowledge and agreement of the Department of Labour, action for a test case to be taken in the Court of Arbitration, but after some weeks the Employers’ Federation was advised that the Judge of the Court of Arbitration felt he could not consider such a case, and that if the issue had to be tested it must be tested outside his Court. The Employers’ Federation was still negotiating with the Department of Labour with a view to taking a test case in another Court, but so far no actual case had arisen. Mr Macdonald added that he understood that two or three Wellington firms had advised the Employers’ Federation that they were willing to have the matter tested in their name, and it was possible that such a case would be brought soon.