HOW TO GET TO WORK.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1485, 6 July 1912, Page 14

HOW TO GET TO WORK.

ROAD OR AIR LINE? QUESTION OF "SUBURBAN JOBS-' ARBITRATION COURT. A question submitted to tho Court of Arbitration last week was what was the Y'Oireel; interpretation of Clause 0 in an industrial agreement between tho Wellington Electrical Workers and tho City Corporation. This has now been answered. At the hearing tho City Solicitor (Mr. J. O'Sliea) appeared for the Corporation and Mr. D. S. Smith for the electrical workers. Tho agreement was made on October 27, 1011, and was in substitution for on agreement of November, 1009. Tho clause of which an interpretation was 6ought was ono relating to suburban work. Troublesome Clause, In tho original agreement thero had been a marginal note, "suburban work," accompanying the clause, but this had been dropped in tho print and omitted from the last agreement and tho workers now claimed that Section (b) of tho clause applied to all clauses in tho agreement, and not to suburban work only. The following questions were therefore submitted to the Court:— Docs Sub-Clause (b) of Clause 6 apply to suburban work only? jjoes tho word "distance" mean a direct line ftfom the .lighting station or the distance to bo travelled by road 'to reach a given point? The Court interprets the clause as follows:—Answer I.—Tho wholo of Clause 0 was intended, obviously, to deal with tho subject of suburban work, and tho provisions contained in Sub-Clauso (b) thereof ought to be treated as applying only to suburban work as defined by SubClauso (a).

The Worker Not Expected to Fly. Answer 2.—Tho distance Df two miles referred to in Sub-Clause (a) must be measured on tho map in a straight lino from 1 tho. lighting station, without regard to tho distance by road from tho lighting station to any particular point. This, however, does not. imposo on any worker tho obligation of travelling as tho crow flies from his homo to the place where the work is to lw, performed. If ho is required to travel from his home to a placo which is more than two miles from the lighting station, then he is entitled to be paid for the tinio so occupied in excess of half an hour. Eor tho purpose of calculating his time he is to bo treated as travelling at tho rate of four miles an hour along the nearest suitable road.

READY-MADE'SUIT. WHAT HAPPENS ON ALTERATION? A decision given by the Magistrate at Palmerston North in a breach of award case lias been reversed by tho Court of Arbitration on an appeal by the defendants. Tho parties were Miller and Giorgi, clothiers, Palmerston North, oppellants, and tho Inspector of Awards, Palmerston North, respondent. At tho hearing last week Mr. T. S. Weston appeared for the appellants, and Mr. 11. 11. Ostler, of tho Crown Law Office, appeared for tho Inspector of Awards. ■ It appeared that Miller and Giorgi had been convicted by Mr. A. Thomson, S.M., for a breach of the Wellington tailors award of lilOG, in that they sold to a customer a ready-made suit, and sent the trousers thereof to a tailor in order that some alterations might bo made. Iho prosecution had bl-en brought under Clauso 15 of the award. Miller and Giorgi nppoaled, on tho ground that tho decision of tho Magistral* was erroneous in point The Court held that tho work did not. come within the meaning of bespoke work, and the appellants were entitled to have tho alteration effected where thoy plasecl. The appeal was therefore upheld, and tho appellants were allowed .£5 ss. costs.

GROCERS' MEN. RATES OE I'AY INCREASED. Tho award of tho Court of Arbitration has been filed in the disputo between tho grocer*' assistants and tho Wellington, employers. The demands of tho union on this occasion were for a week of SI hours, with the usual provisions for overtime Suirlnv work, and holidays. In regard to wages, it was asked .that .employees be classed as journeyman assistants and juuior,assistauts, and that the minimum wages be JSI per week and £2 10s. per week respectively, while wages of carter assistants aro to valine irom Ji" 15s. to J% per week. Preference was asked for also, two alternative clauses being submitted. In general, the award provides for an all-round increase of lis. per week in rates of pay. The emplovces have lost holidays on the Prince of. Wales's Birthday and tho grocers' picnic day, and have not ! received any concessions in the matter of hours. ' . . Tho Court appended the following memorandum to the award:—"The minimum wa»o for adult assistants has been increased from £2 ss. to £1 10s. per week, and the minimum wajfe for drivers has been made tho same.as that for assistants. The Court has not dealt with hours of work, overtime, or payment of wa"es, as these matters are regulated hv°the Shjps and Offices Act.- The mem-, b'ers of the union will not be entitled to preference of employment until the rules of the union have' been altered by revoking Clause B, which, in effect, imposes a penalty of £o on any member resigning from the union.".

PARTIES ADDED. CASE 01? THE CARPENTERS. The following persons, firms, and companies have been added as parlies to the Wellington Carpenters' and Joiners Award:-H. E. While, architect, l.rey Stroet; J. Eullecaini Sons, builders, \\ ellim'ton; G. Smart, builder, Arthur Street.; ,1 "Lusto, builder, Lower Huttj J. A. Chapman, builder. Central Terrace; Ballin»er ilrothers, Wellington; Petonc borough Council (except as to V. anse 12); Dennis and Sons, buihlers. lulbirnio; •.. Bond, builder, 33 Hay Street; .1. V. Cptou, builder, Kilbirnie.