ARBITRATION COURT.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18413, 20 June 1925, Page 7

ARBITRATION COURT.

AWARDS AND INTERPRETATIONS.

Arising cut of the recent sittings of the Court cf Arbitration in Christchurch, the fo;lowing nwards and interpretations have been issued:

Journalists' Conditions. Tlio Court's memorandum to the award in the journalists' dispute states that the technical clauses -were agreed on by the parties. AVagca and a few minor points had been decided by the Court en the lines of the recent award affecting Auckland jourm'ists. Increases'in salaries provided for are: Sub-editor?, 133 per week; first asistant sub-editor, 10s per week; second assistant, sub-editors, '2ss ier week: grade I. reporters, 15s; grade 11.. 10s; grade 111., ss; and proportionate increases for cadets. Headers, revisers, nnd ocpy-hoklers are granted two weeks' holiday yearly, in place of one week as hitherto. The award comes into force on the 22nd inet., and is to remain in fores till Juue 22nd, 1*27. Boxmakers' Award. The matters referred to the Court wore hours, wages, and deductions from wages. The Ccurt has fixed the following scale of wages:—First six months, 16s 6d per week; second, 19s; second year, 245; third year. ' 295; fr.urth year, 34a; thereafter, £2 2s 6d; female overseer in boxmaking department, £2 7s Rd. Hours of work are fix?di at not exceeding -to per week. to bo fixed by each employeil subject to the provisiona of the Factories Act, 1921-22. Time lost by a worker through sickness or default, or through voluntary absence with the consent of the employer, may be deducted from wages. '

Preference to Carp-enters and Joiners. In respect of the application of the Canterbury Carpenters' and Joiners' Union that equal be granted its members with the other unions covered by the Northern, Tavantki, Wellington, Nelson, Canterbury, and Otago and Southland Industrial Districts' Carpenters' and Joiners' award, the Court he!d that the amended rules of the applicant union had not been framed in conformity with the requirements ot" tho preference clsii3o of the award. Although the .amended rules provided for a weekly subscription of 3d and, if thought necessary, a weekly levy of 9d, other clauses made prevision for fines from 6d to £2. The rules also provide for certain benefit schemes which have been held by the Supreme Court to be outsido tho objects cf a union registered under tho I.C. and A. Act. In refuF.inrr the application the Court stntci that (ho atmlicnnt union may *pp'y again, on amending its rules by deleting >all provisions that would render, a member linblo to a total cure illative payment of more than Is per week. The Affect of the Court's decision is that employers must continuo to give preference to tho members of tho Amalgamated Union.

Chief Cook or Working Manageress. The Court ho:ds, in the matter of an interpretation of the Tea. ■ .Rooms and Restaurant Employees' award, that ill the case submittc.a, tho worker cannot bo rated a*3 "chief cook," but is move coTrect!y classed as foreweman of the bakehouse.

"From Farm to Farm." Under tho Threshing Mill Employees' award, tho Court holds that the expression "from fern to farm" is clear and precise. Tho award provides that time, shall cornmenco when the mill enters on the farm and shall continue during all hours .worked. Deductions aro allowed in certain cases, and it is provided that time lost in shifting from farm to farm shall not be computed as time worked. The ordinary meaning of the. words."farm to farm" is "from the time of leaving tho boundary of one farm until tho time of reaching the boundary of the next farm,'' and the definite provision that time is tc- commence as soon as the mill enters on a farm is a clear indication that it is to continue, during a-11 hours worked, subject to tho specified deductions, until the mill leaves the farm, at tho end of the threshing. There ia no justification for' tho contention that time ceases when the final stcok has .been threshed and tho plant coupled up. Typographical Award. Tho Court was . a«k,ed for .an interpretation of the typographical award as follows: Can the hours spent on Saturday night late editions bo counted, in tho thirty nouis guarantee to piecework linotypo operators? The Court holds that there is nothing in tho. award to justify a conclusion that timo spout on Saturday night late editions is not to be included in the guarantee of thirty hours a week to piecework operators, and the custom of the trade has been to include. i