A QUESTION OF WAGES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1610, 29 November 1912, Page 4

A QUESTION OF WAGES.

— —irLETTER BY 'THE PREMIER. (By Megraph—Press Association.) • - Christchurch, November 28. The Hon. W. F. Jiiassey, as Minister for Labour, has written; to Mr. Hiram Hunter, secretary of the New Zealand Federation of Drivers' Unions,'in reply to, Mr. Hunter's letter protesting against' the wages ' awarded drivers by the Court of Arbitration 'in a recent . award. The Minister writes:'"l understand that the desire of-your federation is that as the Qohrt of Arbitration has awarded only £2 Bs. per week-for one-horse drivers, a minimum wage of Is. per hour should.be fixed by.legislation. :Xt should, of course,bo understood that the, rates fixed by the Court in awards are- merely minimum rates of'employment, and any employee is at liberty to stipulate with his .. employer that'll® be paid a.higher wage. I understand, however, that the rate award-, ed in'the award you refer to, namely, £2 8s for one-horse drivers, is 4s. per week more than that fixed- in the previous Canterbury award, dated December la, 1008. Your suggestion opens up a difficult"'question, inasmuch as to carry the' same into effect would'necessitate interference with the discretion of the Court 'of Arbitration, which is the tribunal specially set up to-deal with industrial matters. ' Tho suggestion will, however, be carefully considered during the' present recess, .when the-Industrial and Arbitration Act is being reviewed generally.