LABOUR.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18539, 9 April 1930, Page 10

LABOUR.

PRINTING TRADES AWARD. Bv Tel es^rh—Pros* Association WELLINGTON, April 8. The award of the Arbitration Court in the typographical dispute has been The classification of towns in the machine section has been brought into line with that appearing in the hand section, and in the related trades award, which automatically increased by 5/- the earnings on machine operators in the larger secondary towns, by placing them on the same level as those in the four main centres. Changes are made in the method of computing the piece rate earnings. The rates are not altered, but where type of wider or narrower face than standard is used, the cast up will be on the basis of the work performed, instead of on an arbitrary basis. The rates for night work are unaltered. Regarding holidays, the Court accepted the assurance of extra leave when asked for would not be unreasonably refused. Another matter was the option given employers to add a day to the annual holiday of a worker instead of paying overtime rates for work done on holidays. other than Christmas Day and Cxood Friday. The majority of the Court saw no objection to the option being continued, for it had the effect of giving one holiday for another. It was necessary for newspaper staffs to work on certain public holidays, and there was nothing unreasonable in workers being given day for day when their annual leave became due, instead of being paid overtime rates for the public holiday on which it fell. In other respects the new award is based on the old award. Mr A. L. Monteith (workers’ representative) dissented on the matter of piece rates. In his opinion it amounted to more work for less money. PRIVATE HOTELS AWARD. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, April 8. Witnesses called by the employers in the private hotels dispute to-day, expressed themselves opposed to the insertion of a compulsory clause in the new award permitting union secretaries to go on an employer’s premises once a week to interview employees. They considered it was a matter which should be left to an amicable arrangement. The Union, said Mr Wright, for the employers, had brought forward no evidence to show that the hours asked for by the Union were workable or convenient. Mr Kennedy had relied on ancient history to establish his claim in regard to wages, quoting the basic wage as his only argument. In regard to the cost of living, clothing and drapery were cheaper, but food, which affected the employers, was dearer There had been no changes in conditions since the last award was made to justify granting the claims of the Union. Mr Kennedy also reviewed the evidence, which he contended supported the Union’s claims. The Court’s award will be made later.

DAIRY AND CHEESE FACTORIES. NEW AWARD ISSUED. By Telegraph— WELLINGTON, April 8. Few departures from the old award were made by the Arbitration Court in an award issued to-day governing conditions in butter and cheese factories and creameries. The Court regarded the present time as inopportune for making changes which would have the effect of increasing costs of production. In a memorandum to the award, Mr Justice Frazer said that, in view of the present condition of the dairy produce market, the Court realised that the present time was inopportune for making any material alteration in the conditions. It had, however, decided to fix a short time for the currency of the present award (to February 28th, 1931), and hoped that if the market improved before another award was applied for, the parties would concentrate on the framing of a system of working which would enable a six day week to be vorked. It was recognised that factories must in most cases work on seven days a week, but it ought to be possible to arrange for mutual concessions that would enable the workers to have a weekly day off without unduly increasing the costs of production.