TIMBER INDUSTRY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 107, 7 May 1936, Page 8

TIMBER INDUSTRY

INCREASE IN WAGES FIXED CONCILIATION CONCLUDES AGREEMENT TO SEEK AWARD [ Ppi- F’i-'jss Association. I PALMERSTON N., May 6. Substantial increases in wages for those engaged in the timber industry in most parts of the. North Island are assured as the result of conciliation proceedings concluded to-day. Application is to be made to the Arbitration Court for an award incorporating rates virtually on the .1931 level of wages. The principle of the fortyhour week is not. incorporated in the agreement reached, which, however, is to be binding only .for three months. During that term the hours observed during the past twelve months will remain operative. This, in a majority of cases, is forty-six in town timber yards and forty-eight at. country sawmills. After three months the employees anticipate that new legislation will be operative, applying ihe forty hour week and a new award may then be sought accordingly. The wage rales agreed on were on Ihe basis of an all round increase of threepence half penny per hour over the schedule submitted by the employers at the outset. This represents a minimum of Is lOd for labourers and rising to 2s Id for machinists. Employers also agreed to increase bv 5s per week their proposed rates for juvenile labour. The new' rates will operate from June 1, while the other terms will be binding for three months from the dale of the fixing of the award by rhe Con 11.