A FAIR OFFER

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2937, 24 November 1916, Page 4

A FAIR OFFER

The Wellington employers have made the Drivers' Union a fair offer, and a settlement of the difference which had arisen should now be readily arrived at so far as this City is concerned. Prior to the recent Arbitration Court award the men were receiving a minimum wage of £2 Bs. and £2 12s. a week. Tho Court increased these amounts to £2 I2s. and £2 16s. respectively, and at the same time reduced tho hours of work. As already explained, the union considered tho Court's award insufficient, in view of the special circumstances of the times, and a threat to cease work was made. As the result of conferences tho employers in Wellington have agreed to supplement the minimum wage fixed by the Court by adding a war bonus of 10 per cent. This brings the wage of single-hor6e drivers to £2 17s. 3d., and that of two-horse drivers to £3 Is. Bd., a substantial advance (for fewer hours of work) on the £2 Bs. and £2 125., which were the ruling rates when the case went before the Arbitration Court recently. We have expressed our opinion thatthe men wero entitled to this consideration, and are glad to see that the employers hero have concnrred_ in this view. We hope that the drivers, having been now met in this fair spirit, will bo equally reasonable, and that the dispute will be amicably eDded.