WAGE STANDARDS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 18763, 30 December 1930, Page 5

WAGE STANDARDS.

ATTITUDE OF ARBITRATION COURT. JUDGE OUTLINES POLICY. “I am of the opinion that when a number of awards are current for a particular trade or industry throughout the Dominion, and no special circumstances exist justifying the fixing of different rates for different districts, the same standard minimum rates should apply in each district,” said his Honour, Mr Justice Frazer in explaining the wages standards of the Arbitration Court, in order that its wages policy should be fully understood.

The Court made an order reducing the wages of Manawatu flaxmill workers by 33 1-3 per cent. “For example, a building trades award for the Marlborough district was allowed to lapse some years ago,” said his Honour. “That award had been made previously to the Court’s pronouncement of September, 1925, by which rates of casual workers were increased by Id an hour, when new awards were made for their respective trades. An application for a new award was heard by the Court in October last, and it was decided, by a majority of the Court, that the Marlborough district should be placed on the*~same wages level as all other districts, because there were no circumstances affecting the building trades in Marlborough that did not operate equally in other parts of New Zealand. “Similar considerations influenced the Court when making an electrical workers’ award for the Southern Industrial District last week. Since the last award for that district was made, the Court had decided, in another district, on an increase of id an hour in the minimum rates of two classes of workers; and, as there was no special difference in the circumstances affecting the two districts, a majority of the Court considered itself bound by the former decision, and applied it in making the new Northern District award. Chriatchurch Taxi-Drivers. “On the other hand, the Court, in June last, heard an application for a new award for the Christchurch taxidrivers; and a majority of the Court decided, in view of the fact that all the larger firms, with one exception, had ceased to employ drivers, and had let their cabs on a rental or share basis, which rendered it impossible for the remaining firm to compete at cut rates and pay the wages prescribed by the expired award, to reduce the original wages rates. In the memorandum to the Marlborough Building Trades Award, I indicated that, while the Court would apply its standard rates in cases in which no special circumstances existed to justify a departure therefrom, it would take special circumstances into consideration where they were proved to exist in any trade or industry in any district. “The present case is one of the type I had in mind, and, in my opinion, a departure from the Court’s standard is both necessary and justified.

“In 1900, Mr Justice Martin, then Judge of this Court, stated that if an Industry could not pay standard rates of wages it should go out of existence. He was speaking at the time of a manufacturing industry, in no way related to the primary products of the country. Essential primary industries, however, cannot be dealt with in this manner; and the flaxgrowing and milling industry, if not an essential industry, is of sufficient importance to be given an opportunity, at all events for a limited time, of maintaining its existence.

“Apart from any other features, it is important to note that the flaxmilling Industry is properly classed with our agricultural and pastoral industries. Flax is grown and cut by the flaxmill proprietors in much the same way as are other products of the soil. Most millowners own or lease large areas of flax-swamp lands, on which the flax is cultivated. The farming industries In New Zealand are not governed by awards, except in regard to certain special operations.

“The Court has on at least three occasions refused to make awards covering general farming operations. The dairy-farmer is subject to no awards, though the cheese and butter factories in which his products are worked up, are operated under award conditions. “The agriculturist is subject to no awards, except in respect of threshing, in which outside labour is generally employed. If he threshes his grain with his own mill on his own farm, he is not subject even to the threshing mill workers’ award.

“The sheepfarmer is not subject to any awards, except in regard to mustering and shearing, and these awards provide for special exemptions in respect of regular station hands. The pastoralist who raises stock for market is not subject to any award, though the freezing works, which deal with his stock, are operated under award conditions.

“It appears anomalous, therefore, that the flaxgrowing and milling industry should be subject to award conditions in all its stages and operations; and this circumstance, coupled with the fact that in ether flax areas, outside the Manawatu district, no awards exist, has influenced me in deciding to grant the present application.

“This memorandum sets forth my own opinions, and I accept the sole responsibility for it.”