THE LOT OF THE CLERK

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 660, 10 November 1909, Page 7

THE LOT OF THE CLERK

;;, INDUSTRIAL UNION FORMED, ■ : 'WAGES AND THE- EMPLOYMENT 01 , .;:•/ r-Js; ■■].■:. •;;--,;.;qiKLS,--.-... : ~';.: ' -■"•'■'■ . : X (By: Teicgraph.— Speoial Cbrroßpondent.) >'.: , ~,: 'Auckland, November 9. Hitherto, the operation of; the Arbitration Act has ..been confined to those who work with- their coats 'off, but it appears "possible the - near future,, an. effort, will, be made to widen its Bobpe so as to include thoso who earn their livelihood by other than pliyBical; toil. >That at all events 13 suggested.by the of, "The Auckland Clerks! Industrial, Union " with:a membership of about 40. This Is. the '■ first union of clerical workers I in Now Zealand,, but a movament is afoot to form unions '.in . Christchurch:■. and , Napier, l while'there are, several'such: unions in Sydney; and other, parts of, Australia. ■', '■■■.:■■■;' '■'■: It is the intention of'the promoters that the" Anck|aiid. : ' ynioii". should' , 'lttclude" clerical wor.kere of' all. kinds, and ; a meeting of M interested-will .be:\cal)od- for -an early date When the union'has attained greater 'strength: an application will be made to the Arbitration Court for ran award. ; 'lt,is. understood that one.of the things .asked for will be preference to• unionists. ;'---.- : .-y\ <■''-'■>.;;.■■■. , < ; . ■■■; '-;■: • The reason advanced for the formation of a union is that, conditions; of clerical work in Auckland and over the Dominion generally are very:-unsatisfactory. , ,'There might be a .sentimental ,; objection oh the part of some clerks ,tp unionism,-remarked ono of tho promotors,, but it wiis felt the aid of the machinery prepared by the Legislature ;for the controlof. wages,must be invoked.'! . : ' , , : .■ . ..:.-'. -Tho'average! weekly wages paid to clerks in Auokland were £l.bs. to il 15s; in the case of, junior clerks, and *C 2 '■■. to £2 • 10s. in. the case of ledger clerks. -Instances wore not unknown of ledger- and invoice-clerks woi'king . for .£1 103. Cascs_ had even' come under; the r notice of the .union in which ■ invoice apd. Customs clerks were only getting '£1 2s. Gd.': Thero .were 'middle-aged and elderly men who had come to that time of life when they could Hot turn, their hand,to anything else, and "they were working for i£l 155. : or i! 2. '■■■-. •, The United: Clerks' Union of New South Wales had decided to :press.for the: followintr 6cale of,-wages s—Employees under li! years of nge,los.,por we*k,-,rising.by yearly-increments pf ss. per week , to, £Z 10s., which should', bo the w,age for all clerks over 23; cashiers, bookkeepers, and ohief clerks, £3; casual/hands, 10s. per day. Somewhat, similar wages would probably be asked for in Auokland., It was stated that, although the cost of living in-New Zealand had risen considerably of late years, tho \vages of clerks had shown a downward tendency. The : chief, reason ad- , vanned for this was the employment of girls; "Go where you will," said one of the unionists, "you see girte. Some large offices in toiw employ girls almost exclusively, not only as typiets, for which they are well suited, but on the ledger. Uirla can live:more cheaply than men; and so they are willing to accept anything up to 55., and the result has been that men's have been pulled down. Wβ have no. objection to girls earning a lirelihood as olerks, but we wish to aboHnh.thie cutting, and so we will ask the Court to make no distinotion between the sexes when fixing wages. If this is done we have no doubt the employnrs will not be so fond of cmplojing girl .labour.' :..' .-'. '... ■ .'•' >. • -i;- ■■' ''; '■.■,..:' unfortunate feature of present,conditiona is that juniors are employed; to do work that ehould fair to> the lot of experienced men. By grading wases, according to age wo hope to overcome this," •:, ':;': .-.,.'■'. ..'■',■ ■ ..■'■;•■ * ;' . IBy TeleitrapU-Press Asaocfatlon.) ' ■'.'", ' : v : v ; 'v.' ■■'■-• Dunedin,'November 9. It is understood that a movement to establish a clerks'v union here ; is.. meeting with strong eupport; Nothing definite' will, ; bo" accomplished for. some little time;- but in > tho meantime information is being: obtained' , with respeotto the. movements tin-Auckland, Christchurch, and Nelson. -It;has not been decided yet .whether ' girl:;clerks will:.be - admitted to tho Union.';•■ ■ : -, .*,-'■ ' i•■■'■'.' : :-'■'.-„■ ,'.'.• i;:-■ v ; '•'. ■; \.■ '■:.-.■■