ARBITRATION COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 August 1920, Page 6

ARBITRATION COURT.

WAGES OF MAKERS' EMPLOYEES. By Telegraph— Press Association, Wellington, August 4. In the Arbitration Court to-day it was announced that the employers in the baking industry had intimated that they were prepared to grant 4s per week to employees over and above any bonus the Court might grant. This makes the total bonus Ids a week. GROCERS' ASSISTANTS HOURS. Wellington,' August 4. In ( the grocers' assistants dispute, which was before the Arbitration Court to-day, Mr Keen, for the union, said that the hours were the longest worked in any trade, being 52 per week. There had been no reduction., since 1012. The grocers' assistants in Xew Zealand, particularly in Wellington, were working longer hours than any other shop assistants in Australasia. The average hours in other shops were 48. The president of the court pointed out that there was an amendment to the Shops and Offices Act now ' before Parliament. Mr. Keen agreed, but pointed out that the workers were in a dilemma between the court and Parliament. The union found in conference with the employers that the employers were shattering behind the Shops' and Offices Act and the court had been inclined to take the same view. The president said that-the court had jurisdiction to shorten hours, but did not care to exercise that jurisdiction in face of a special Act. He suggested that the legislature should not fix hours of work in shops, bat times for opening wd closing. The court reserved its decision regarding hours of work, wages and weekly half-holiday.