WORK AND WAGES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 49, 22 October 1912, Page 3

WORK AND WAGES.

HOTEL EMPLOYEES’ UNION. (Per Press Association.) Rotorua, October 21. The Arbitration Court to-clay heard a demand by the Local branch of the Auckland Hotel and Boarding-house Employees’ Union, the principal effect of which was for shorter hours and increased pay. Judge Sim commented on the fact that the demands were double-barrelled. He said it was ridiculous for the union to make proposals entirely altering the award in less than two years of the Court fixing the expiring award. * When would the unions exercise common sense in approaching the Court, and formulate reasonable demands? The evidence for the union was chiefly on the question of allowing a half-holiday, the Judge stating that it seemed to be proving breaches of the awards for which the proprietors should have been prosecuted in the S.M. Court. For the employers, it was shown that, allowing for additional labour necessitated by shorter hours, a half holiday and an alternative Simday off, granting the demands would involve an extra expenditure of £4682 15s, of 75 per cent, on the present wages bill qf £6200. Mr Long, for the union, admitted that the demands were - made higher than they expected, as before the Conciliation Commissioner it was often necessary to compromise. Mr Scott: That is reducing the whole thing to a farce.

DRIVERS’ DISPUTE. ARBITRATION AWARD. Christchurch, October 21. The award of the Arbitration Court in the drivers’ dispute has been .handed to the parties. it was proposed; by tiio Drivers’ Federation to apply for a Dominion award uncicr tire Ad of 1911 ,but, owing to defective legislation on the subject, that was feund to be impossible. Applications for; local awards were made, therefore, in Auckland, Gisborne, Wellington, Wanganui, Napier, Christchurch and Dunedin, /and these verc heard as one dispute, in Wellington, on September 17 and 18. They were treated as being in substance, though not in form, applications for a Dominion award. The Court, in a memo, says that tire principal changes made 'ey the new awards in the existing conditions arc: (1) Attendance to horses has been limited to eight hours per week. There is no doubt that in the past some employers have made improper use of the right to require a driver to attend to liis horses without any limit as to time, and some restriction on the subject was necessary. (2) The time occupied by a driver in going from and returning to a stable is to count as part of his working hours. (3) The wages of drivers have been increased. In the city of Wellington the increase is Is per week, in Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin the increase is 4s per week. (4) Rates for casual drivers have been increased. The minimum wages arc: One horse £2 8s per week, two or mm® horses £2 12s, casual drivers to Ik; paid Is Ijd per hour for one horse and Is 3d for more, overtime to be Is 3d and Is 6d respectively, and is to commence after nine and a half hours have been worked in any one day. Casual driver is defined as one not employed for a week or more. On Sundays, Christmas Day and Good Friday, casual drivers shall he paid 2s Gd per hour. Wages for youths arc fixed at IS to 19 years £1 ss, 19 to 20 years £1 10s, 20 to 21 £1 15s. The proportion is one to one, and after that one to each four additional drivers. Bijkers arc to be allowed to employ youths under 18 years at 12s 6d per week and found, or £1 unfound; others, 18 to 19 years 15s to £1 2s Gd, 19 to 20 18s to £1 Bs, 20 to 21 £1 to £1 IBs. The proportion to be one to one, and one more for each three additional drivers, provided that any employer who cannot find a fully-paid driver may employ one youth.