NEW AWARD MADE FOR COUNTRY WORKERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18016, 29 November 1926, Page 13

NEW AWARD MADE FOR COUNTRY WORKERS.

The Arbitration Court, presided over by Mr Justice Frazer, has issued a new award following an application made by the Canterbury Mustercrs, Packers and Drovers’ organisation, the respondents being .the Canterbury Sheepowners’ Union, Dalgety and Co., Ltd., Matson and Co., Ltd., New Zealand Farmers’--Co-operative Association, Ltd., New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Association, Ltd., and Pyne, Gould, Guinness, Ltd. In giving the decision the court stated that the evidence of both sides had been fully considered and the new award would be binding upon the union *Jnd employers. The Court ordered that the award would take effect from December 6, 1926, and continue in force until June 30, 1928. The schedule as submitted by the union and approved contained the following principal clauses: — blusterers when employed to muster sheep for any purpose shall be paid

not less than £4 Gs per week if engaged by the week, and not less than 17s 8d per day if engaged by the day. blusterers engaged by the week shall receive an additional payment of 17s 8d for any Sunday on which they are required to do any mustering. Packers employed in connection with mustering shall be paid not less than £3 11s per week if engaged by the week, And not less than 10s 2d per day if engaged by the day. Any xnusterer or packer required to do snow-raking shall be paid £1 5s per day while engaged in such work. Youths may be employed to learn mustering at not less than the following fates, in addition to thAir board and lodging: For the first year, £1 10s per week; for the second year, £2 per week. In all the above cases food of good quality and sufficient quantity, including butter and jam, shall be provided by the employer. In all cases where it is reasonably practicable, musterers and packers shall be provided by the employer with good dry sleeping accommodation on the hills, and proper provision shall be made, by oil-sheets or otherwise, for the protection of all bedding from wet during transit, blusterers required to

travel more than ten miles to a station shall be paid for such travelling one day’s pay. Drovers shall be paid not less than £1 Is 8d per day and all necessary expenses. The provisions of the award shall not apply to any worker who is employed regularly as a farm or station hand and who assists in mustering '■or does packing for musterers. The award shall operate throughout the Canterbury industrial district.