ENGINEERING TRADE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1019, 7 January 1911, Page 3

ENGINEERING TRADE.

' 4 ■ THE OTACO AWARD. BASIS OF DOMINION AGREEMENT.

An engineering trade award, covering the Otago district, came into force on January 2. It is likely to become ultimately, in all essential features, the basis of a Dominion agreement covering the whole engineering trade in Now Zealand. Attached to the award is a schedule which applies to all centres throughout the country. Prior to making the Otago award, tho Arbitration Court heard evidence in each centre, and tho schedule mentioned is based oil tho whole of the evidence taken. AVith very slight, local amendments, the conditions contained in this schedule will form the

basis of an award in each centre, as soon as the necessary Court, formalities have been complied with. All existing awards iu the engineering trade expired in November, 1908, and the Amalgamated Society of Engineers at that period held .a. conference in Wellington, which was attended by delegates from branches all over .New Zealand. In the following March-, Mr. W. Cr. D. Evans, who was then secretary to the Wellington branch of the society, was appointed as advocate to-represent the society. Tho decision of the conference ' was to ; go- in ;for ■ a Dominion tfward, so.that similar conditions might obtain throughout \ New Zealand. In awards then existing conditions specified varied greatly. In Auckland two rates of pay were recognised, 10s. per day and lis. per day. In Wellington and Otago Us. per day. was tho rate. Canterbury had no fixed rate at all.

Mr. Evans lias, since his appointment, conducted. lengthy negotiations in the various engineering centres, with a view to paving the way for tlio Dominion agreement, and states that the wholo proceedings have been of the most amicable charafcter; both parties evincing at all times the keenest desire to arrive at a mutual understanding. . The Otago award, issued on December 19 of last year, will remain in force .until December 19, 1913. It came into force on January 2 last. The -award provides that the hours ,of labour shall bo 47 per week, and the minimum rate of pay Is. 4]d. per hour. Overtimo is to be paid at- the of time and a. quarter for tho first two hours, and time and a half afterwards. Work done on New Y ear's Day, Easter. Monday, or tho King's Birthday is to bo paid for at the rate of time and a half, and double time is to be paid for work on Christmas Day, Good Friday, Labour Day, or on any Sunday. On night shift, workers are to bo paid two shillings per liight extra, and work, an eight-hour shift. Jourueymeu are to receive Is. per day extra on exceptionally dirty work and apprentices'6d. per day extra. The minimum wage of lis. per day of eight hours, is to be paid to all journeymen in the' general engineering trade, but an exception is made in tho

i.-aso of the agricultural implement industry. ' Wages now being paid to workers in this industry are in no case to be reduced. Many of them now receive lis. per day.

; Branches of the trade included in the award aro fitters, ■ turners,. patternmakers, .motor-mechanics, mill-wrights, machinists, tool-makers, coppersmiths, and blacksmiths. Apprentices are empowered, if they so desire, to work for two years as improvers, after completing their apprenticeship; Improver's pay for the first' year is fixed at lid. per hour>(£2 2s..per week), arid for thc-sccond year at Is. 2d. per hour (10s. per day). .....

A. preference clause'included is similar to that embodied in other awards. The employer is made sole judge of the qualifications of a-worker.

. A memorandum attached to tho award states that the Cburt has endeavoured as far as possible to limit the list of parties affected to employers who are in business as engineers. A number of employers brought. before tho Court as parties have been struck out. This will i not 1 prevent the union from applying later to have employers joined as parties to: the award, but before the Court makes any order to this effect, the union will be required to show some ground-for the joinder.

Mr. Evans stated that the principal effect of this provision was to exclude most firms that employ men to do their own repair work, from the operation of the award. For instance, engineers .employed by the Waihi Gold Mining Company are paid a minimum of f)s. 6d. per da.y, while outside engineers in the same district would shortly be receiving a minimum of Us. per day. Some large timber-milling firms in Auckland employ as many as twelve mechanics. In cases such as this the ■ union will probably exercise its privilege of applying to have the employers brought under the operation, of the award.