JOURNALISTS’ AWARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 November 1924, Page 7

JOURNALISTS’ AWARD.

DOMINION CLAIM. By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, Nov. ]B. | An application by the New Zealand Association for a Dominion iward came before the Conciliation Council this morning. The representative of the association said that the applicants felt it would be more businesslike to have the*conditions set down under one heading, and that it would be better for the employers. They did not anticipate obtaining larger benefits by a Dominion award. The employers’ representative said thr demands were preposterous ’ and asked if the appbeants were seriously going on with them. The commissioner pointed out that it was not an offence to ask for anything.

The employees claimed a 44-hour week and minimum salaries for the five | chief centres: Sub-editor £l2, second do. £ll, other ditto £lO, lady editor £7, chief reporter £ll, senior reporter £9 10s, generals £8 10s, juniors (after a year) £6 10s. Out of the five centres the salaries claimed were: Senior jourm lists £9 generals £B, juniors £*>. The employers’ counter proposals were on the lines of the existing award now in operation in Christchurch for city papers, and the Wellington country journalists’ award for country pa pers. Regarding the question of wages the employee submitted the following reduced scale of salaries for reporters:— Senior, £8 10s; genera], £7; junior (first year) £4 10s; (second year), £5 10s; cadet, .(first year) £2; (second year) £3; th:id year .£3 15s. The employers’ assessors retired to consider the proposal but on returning stated they could not agree to them, preferring to leave the matter to the court. No agreement was reached and the dispute was referred to the court.