H.—ll.

The following summary shows the minimum wage-rates as at 31st May, 1939, iixed by awards and agreements in a number of the principal industries:— (Where there is no Dominion award or agreement in operation Wellington rates have been taken.)

The industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act, 1930, provides for the fixing in awards of maximum working-hours, exclusive of overtime, not exceeding forty per week, except where the Court is satisfied that it would be impracticable to carry on efficiently any industry if the hours were so limited. A further provision is that where the Court fixes the maximum weekly hours at not more than forty Saturday work is to be eliminated where practicable. In respect of awards in operation at the date hereof the following tables set out the industries or occupations in which the hours are fixed at forty per week, also where the hours fixed exceed forty, and where Saturday work is permitted.

6

Industry. j Hate. j Weekly Hours. Bakers .. .. .. .. .. £5 15s. per week .. .. 44 Biscuit and confectionery workers— Adult male .. .. .. £4 8s. to £4 12s. 6d. per week 40 Adult female .. .. .. .. £2 9s. per week .. .. 40 Boot operatives— Adult male .. .. .. 2s. 3$d. per hour .. .. 40 Adult female .. .. .. .. Is. 3jd. per hour .. .. 40 Bricklayers .. .. ... ,. 2s. 10|d. per hour .. .. 40 Butchers (retail shops) .. .. .. £5 3s. 6d. to £6 5s. per week.. 44 Carpenters and joiners .. .. 2s. 9fd. per hour .. .. 40 Clerical workers — Adult male .. .. .. £5 10s. per week .. .. ~1 f , , , • , , , ; , „„ _ 1 , > Those of establishment. Adult female .. .. .. .. £3 5s. per week .. ■ ■ J Clothing-trade employees— Adult male .. .. .. £4 12s. Gd. per week .. 40 Adult female .. .. .. .. £2 10s. per week .. .. 40 Coachworkers .. .. .. .. 2s. 9d. per tiour .. .. 40 Cheese- and butter-factory employees .. £4 10s. to £5 14s. per week .. Butter : 40, 44, or 48, according to season of year. Cheese : 38, 44, or 52, according to season of year. Drivers — (а) Motor .. .. .. £4 16s. to £5 8s. per week .. 44 (б) Horse .. .. .. £4 13s. for one horse, £4 16s. 44 for two horses, and 6d. per day extra for each horse above two (c) Passenger transport .. .. £5 10s. per week .. 88 per fortnight. 0 m n i b u sdrivcrs, 80. Electrical workers .. .. .. 2s. 9d. per hour .. .. 40 Engine-drivers, firemen, and greasers— Drivers, 1st Class Certificate .. .. £5 5s. per week .. .. 40 Drivers, 2nd Class Certificate .. .. £5 per week .. .. 40 Firemen and greasers .. .. £4 15s. per week .. .. 40 Engineering-trade employees.. ... .. 2s. 4|d. to 2s. lid. per hour.. 40 Furniture-trade employees— Males .. .. .. 2s. 4Jd. to 2s. 9d. per hour .. 40 Grocers' assistants .. i. .. £5 2s. 6d. per week .. .. 44 Hairdressers .. .. .. £5 7s. 6d. per week .. .. 44 Labourers .. .. .. 2s. 4d. to 2s. 7d. per hour .. 40 Motor-engineering-tradc employees .. 2s. 5s. to 2s. lid. per hour .. 40 Painters and decorators .. .. 2s. 9d. per hour .. .. 40 Plasterers.. .. .. .. ..2s. lOJd. per hour .. .. 40 Plumbers .. .. .. .. 2s. 9d. per hour .. .. 40 Printers' machinists, &c. .. .. £4 10s. to £5 7s. 6d. per week of 40 hours Shop assistants— Adult males .. .. .. £5 2s. 6d. per week .. .. 44 Adult females .. .. .. £2 17s. 6d. per week .. 44 Storemen and packers— Wholesale .. .. .. £4 10s. per week .. .. 40 Oil-stores .. .. .. £4 12s. 6d. per week .. 40 Wool, grain, &c., stores .. .. £4 12s. 6d. per week .. 40 Timber-yards and sawmills employees.. .. 2s. 4d. to 2s. lOd. per hour .. 40 Tramway employees— Motormen (after first year) .. 2s. per hour .. .. 40 Conductors (after first year) .. 2s. 4d. per hour .. .. 40 Conductors (after fifth year) .. 2s. 4Jd. per hour .. .. 40 Motor-bus drivers .. .. ..2s. 6jd. per hour .. .. 40 Typographers .. .. .. £4 4s. to £5 10s. per week of 40 hours Warehousc employees .. .. £5 per week .. .. 42 Woollen-mills employees— Adult males .. .. .. 2s. 4d. to 2s. 9d. per hour .. 40 Adult females .. .. .. ..Is. 3d. per hour .. .. 40