RURAL LOCAL BODY LABOURERS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 117, 2 March 1950, Page 6

RURAL LOCAL BODY LABOURERS

CLAIMS FOR NEW AWARD \

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Mar. 1. An increase of 3d an hour in the wages earned by rural local body labourers, to bring their weekly wage to £7 10s, was sought in the Arbitration Court to-day by Mr P. Butler, advocate for the workers concerned. The union sought an increase in the casual labourers’ rate of Id, to 3s 7d an hour. Mr Butler submitted that £7 a week, the present wage of the labourers, was not sufficient to maintain a home today. The men could remain in the same job for 20 or 30 years, receiving basic award wages. Amended rates for overtime were also sought. Time worked after eight hours, Mr Butler said, should be paid for at the rate of time and a half for the first three hours, and thereafter double lime.

Thq award, Mr Butler claimed, should also make special provision for emergency work, for which rural local .bodies, at present paid ordinary rates. Mr J. R. Hanlon, for the employers, opposed increases on the grounds that there had been no changes in the nature or methods of the work since the Court amended the award in May last 'year.

Mr Justice Tyndall reserved his decision.

The Arbitration Court also heard claims for an award for builders’ labourers, quarry workers, tunnellers, and general labourers. .This also applies to the whole of New Zealand except Otago. Agreement had been reached in conciliation on most clauses, including wages. The main items in dispute were claims to bring provision for work in wet places and time paid for after a stoppage of work, in line with the carpenters’ award. The Court promised to take into account the representations on which parties agreed to exclude registered drainlayers, but not drainlayers’ labourers, in the Wellington district, from the scope of an award. Decision was reserved.