NEW AWARD ISSUED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 143, 20 June 1939, Page 8

NEW AWARD ISSUED

PLUMBERS AND GASFITTERS TOOL MONEY ALLOWED. [ Per Press Association ] WELLINGTON, June 19. A new Dominion award for plumbers and gasfitters, made by the Court of Arbitration, came into force to-day. and expires at the end of 1940. It was made by a majority decision on a number of points, and both Mr A. L. Monteith (workers representative) and Mr. W. C. Prime (employers’ re-

presentative) attach dissenting opinions to the memorandum of Mr. Justice O’Regan. The principal variation from the previous award is the granting of a halfpenny an hour as tool allowance. The award provides for a 40-hour week and 44-hour week for workers engaged on ship repair work. The minimum wage is 2s 9d an hour, with Is a day additional for men in charge of jobs and a halfpenny an hour for journeymen as a tool allowance.

The Colonial Sugar Refining Company is allowed to employ workers at £5 6s a week. Mr. Monteith does not agree with the conditions given in respect of ship repair work, nor the concessions to the sugar company, and Mr. Prime objects to the tool and overall allowance as an indirect increase in wages, entirely unwarranted.