ARBITRATION COURT.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17116, 11 April 1921, Page 4

ARBITRATION COURT.

| SATURDAY'S PROCEEDINGS. . Tho Court r S OI S(eSS Frazer, president, Messrs W. ers' representative, and J. A. 10 ££ t . (employees' repre«entative)-resumcd on b<" Urdar ' QUARRY WORKERS. , The dispute affecting the <l«»^J o 0 f !£. section of the General Labourers' Union »» ta Mr'F. Cooner spoeared for the employers and Mr H. AYorrall for the union. Agreement had been arrived at Jj*»_"£ Council of Conciliation on all tho exception of «|e> and «ljf»*~*f? " workers. Tho union asked for 2a od: «»,h°ur for certain workers and 2s for certain otuer W Mr er Worrall submitted that the-men who were puid U £d an hour should be paid -s 13d to mako their present wages equal m purchasing power to the 1911 wages; Uiose paid Is 3d in 1914 required to MP" 4 ;' Rid. Ho called evidence, in support ol me union's proposed, classification of workers. Mr Cooper said that the employers asfcea that wages should be fixed on the claswfica-. lion of the present award; »f the Court thought the classification should be e»entUrt, then it was suggested that «» "une** award, made last October, should bo lollowed. AVith the fall in the demand by local bodies for metal through lack of money, ana tho high cost of material and wages, I 113 1" were now working under conditions that provided not more than overhead oxpenses. ±ie•Yerrin'- to the cost of living, Mr Copper quoted comparative figures supplied by a body which gets its food supplies by contract; the comparative prices were given for April and May last year and March tb» year. Mr Worrall commented that workers spent more on bread, or on butter, than on artidea like cocoa, rice, and tapioca. Tho comparison did not refer to increases in flour, bread, and milk. V The Court reserved its decision. TAILORING- TRADE BONUS. On behalf of the tailoring trade, Mr F. R. Ccoke asked for the increase of the bonus to pieceworkers, to bring their wages up to the level of the wages of weekly workers. Mr F. Cooper appeared for the employer?. Mr Cooke alleged that, while some weekly workers received more than the award rate, pieceworkers were paid only the actual award rate, la 4£d an hour. Mr Cooper stated that the whole matter was gone fully into on a- previous occasion. It -was then shown that, at tho piece rate, pieceworkers could make wages equal to those, of weekly hands. Later it was found that this was not the- case in reapeot of women workers, and the pieoe rate 1 had been .raised from lid to li. The Court reserved its decision. The Court adjourned till }Q o'clock this morning. BONUS GRANTED. Orders granting the 3s bonus have, been made as under: Canterbury Curriers, Canterbury Manufacturing Jewellers, Watch and Clock Makers, Canterbury Taxi-drivers, Canterbury Livery Stable, Coach, 'Bus,' and Cab Proprietors, Cbristchurch Journalists, Canterbury Iron, and Brass Moulders, North Canterbury Carpenters and Joiners, North Canterbury Paint-' ers and Decoratore, Christchurch Plasterers, Canterbury Coachbuilders, North Canterbury Bakers and Pastrycooks, Christchurch (10 milca radius) Confectioners and Biscuitmakers, Canterbury Retail Chemists, Canterbury Brick, Pottery, Pipe, and Tile "Workers, Addington Iron Rolling Mills Employees, Canterbury Milliners, North Canterbury Threshing Mill Employees, Canterbury Boilermaker* and Iron Shipbuilders, North Canterbury Grocers' Assistants and Drivers, and Canterbury Furniture- Trade. The- Court attached the following memorandum to its order in respect of the Canterbury Carpenters e,nd Joiners' application: —The bonus granted is the ordinary November, 1320 bonus, A consent to tho granting l o? the bonus of 2sd an hour originally declared was signed by the Canterbury Builders, and Contractors' Association, but as this was dated before the announcement of the Court's final decision regarding the amount of- the bonus, and in any event affects only one/ section of tho employees, tho Court could not embody it in tho order. ' In respect cf the General Labourers' Union's application as ! regards - tho North Canterbury Builders, Contractors, and Goneral Labourers, the Court declined the application ou tho ground that the November bonus Jiaa been already provided for in the award. I