TIMBER-WORKERS SEEK DOMINION AWARD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 86, 13 April 1940, Page 8

TIMBER-WORKERS SEEK DOMINION AWARD

HIGHER WAGES CLAIMED ARGUMENTS HEARD BY COURT [ Per Pi«»B3 Association.] WELLINGTON. April 12. r | Various questions relating to the 11 timber industry in New Zealand were 11 argued in the Court of Arbitration toe day when the employees sought a Dominion award for all industrial'districts with the exception of Canterbury, and claimed higher wages. The New Zealand Sawmillers and Box* i makers’ Industrial Union of Employers' opposed the applications for increased wages and after hearing of evidence the Court reserved Its decision. ’ Mr. Justice Tyndall presided and 1 associated with him were Messrs. A. L. Monteith (workers’ representative) and W. E. Anderson (employers’ repL resentative). Messrs. F. L. Turley (Greymouth) and F. Craig (Auckland) 1 appeared for the workers and Messrs. A. Seed and H. J. Bishop represented the employers. In assessing the rate to be paid to bushmen the Court should keep in mind three main points, Mr. Turley a submitted —the actual value of the work performed, the danger involved ' in the performance of the work, thb climatic conditions under which the • work must necessarily be performed and the isolated nature of the opera- ’ tions. The union claimed an annual holiday over and above the statutory ' holidays and saw no valid reason why J this should not be granted. Mr. Turley said. 5 Mr. Turley produced figures and statistics in support of his argument for increased remuneration for workers and said the rate of production a day was more under the 40 hours fiveday week than previously under the 48-hour week of six days. Submitting the case for the employers, Mr. Seed said his figures would show that the output per man had not increased under the 40-hour week. The shorter hours worked, in any case, had been offset to some extent by improved methods of production. Referring to the question of living costs in the sawmilling districts, ;Mr. Seed said the rents of tne sawjmill workers were a long way below ‘ i city rates and the accommodation ’ available had been greatly improved ’ within recent years. He agreed that in the past some accommodation had been poor, but in many cases it had not been subject to rent. Mr. Seed said he could not agree ; that the sawmillers were getting the returns mentioned in the figures supi plied by Mr. Turley. If they were. 1 hey could afford to pay higher wages, but the facts were that an extreme , case had been quoted and the actual , returns were very much lower. • Timber prices were regulated and 1 strictly limited and only a small marlgin was allowed for interest and return of capita] on wasting assets. No i increases in timber prices had been permitted except to meet, increased costs to the industry and if costs were further increased by higher wages and I paid holidays, application would have I to be made for an increased price for t i mbe r