EFFECT OF DOMINION AWARD.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1541, 10 September 1912, Page 8

EFFECT OF DOMINION AWARD.

(To the Editor.) » Sir,—Mr. Barber, at the animal meeting , of the. Wellington Woollen Manufactur- ' ing Company, referred to the fact that the Petone Woollen Mill employees had form- I ed a union, and that although the recent j award increased the mill wages by JJSOO '• per annum, they wore satisfied to pay that , knowing that they were not now at any I disadvantage with competitors in the ' matter of minimum wages. You will ob- i serve that he does not express any satis-* faction at paying the workers a little '. (very little) more than tho miserable pittance they were receiving previously, in most instances £2 2s. being the wages for a married man. Now, under the present award (which, Mr. Barber, as chairman of the company, 6hould know lias not, as ho states, a currency of three years, fortunately it is only two) the coinpaiiy which, is protected by a, kindly government to the extent of 25. per cent., is compelled to pay the male worker a minimum of £i ss. per wesk of ■18 hours, truly a magnificent sum for a man to bring up a family on. (I wonder why this shortage of suitable workers, Mr, B. complains ot.) Mr. Barber tells us that the. minimum wage for women is 255., but some of thea l ■earn as much as 40s. io 455. (we oer. tainly know of one instance where t woman is doing the samp work as the men, and receiving 295. instead of 45&. ho earns; is that Mr. Barber's meaning), 60 (hat frequent publication of averages paid, in the mill were very misleading, and therefore unfair to tho industry Perhaps Mr. Barber will let us know hon many, if there arc any, women who average 355., and how many men who work \ for this much misrepresented company average £2 2s. per week. Now, sir, I maintain that an industry protected to tho extent of 25 per cent., . and which, can put away .£1550 to a reserve fund, expend JC3707 on now machinery, write off .£SOOO for depreciation, and then pay 7 per cent, on capital should bo compelled to pay a minimum average wage of £2 Bs. (at least) to male workers, and piece-workers should be placed on a basis Out would allow of them earning thia sum, and I. feel sure that tho industry would prosper .in proportion as tho workers would bo working in perfect harmony with the employers, and not waiting for ■ tho time to arrive when they can again approach the Court and endeavour to convince tho powors that be that it is necessary for <ven'a woollen mill employee to live-lam, etc., - President Woollen Mills Union, ,