WAGES OF WATERSIDERS

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1929, Page 11

WAGES OF WATERSIDERS

EMPLOYERS OPPOSE INCREASE.

CASE BEFORE ARBITRATION.

By Telegraph—Press Association.

Wellington, July 22. The case for the employers in the watersiders’ dispute was put before the Arbitration Court to-day by Air. S. G. Smith. He said they were merely asking that the existing awards should be renewed, and claimed that no increase was justified in the basic or general cargo rate of 2s 4d per hour, as since 1914 the watersiders had received increases from Is 3d to 2s 4d for ordinary time, 2s to 3s Gd for ordinary overtime and 2s to 4s 8d for special overtime. If the watersiders’ proposals of 2d per hour for main ports, 4d an hour for the smaller ports and 6d an hour for the Bluff were granted the cost to shipowners would be £122,616 a year, increased by the extra cost imposed on other parties to the award, numbering 260. Taking into consideration the hours worked, Air. Smith maintained that the watersiders were better off than the general labourers.