ARBITRATION COURT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 33, 2 November 1917, Page 3

ARBITRATION COURT

INCREASED WAR BONUS

TAILORESSES WANT MORE MONEY

Tho New Zealand federated Tailoresses aud Other Clothing Trades Employees' industrial Union applied to the Arbitration Court yesterday for an addition of 10 per cent, in the war bonus. ,

Oil the beach wero llr. Justice Stringer and Mr. W. Scott (employers' representative) and Mr. J. A. M'Cullough (workers' representative).

The federation asked for an increase in the war bonus of 10 per cent., (he same to bo allocated on the basis already fixed in the schedule of tho award. The present war bonus is 7J per cent.

'l'ho Hon. J. T. Paul, who appeared for the federation, in opening his case, said that last year a conference was held between the workers and the employers, and an agreement arrived at for the payment of a war bonus of 74 per cent. The federation was desirous of disturbing trade as little as possible. Last year tho members of the federation were not in any way unanimous. The parties had conferred recently on the question of an addition to the war bonus, but they wero unable to agree, and tlie federation had no alternative but to make application to the Court. The books of the employers were closed books to tho federation, and so they could riot. accurately know the wages that wero being paid to the operatives, and were obliged to obtain such figures direct from the workers. The officials of the federation were always in close touch .with the members, and there was no question that tho members were dissatisfied with the 7J per cent, war bonus. If tho federation last year could have seen twelve months ahead they would never have agreed to the 7i per cent, bonus. Ho based his claim on tho increaso in the cost of living, with which the Court was familiar, and on the general conditions prevailing. He maintained that the industry was prosperous, a considerable amount, about one million sterling, had been expended in this country with the clothing manufacturers, and the difficulty of importing goods had left the local manufacturers in command of the local market. The local product was so good that the people would get used to buying the locally-made goods, and it would be difficult for the imported rubbish to again get a footing in this market after the war. He rested his case largely on comparison's with the various increases granted to other workers. He then quoted the increases allowed in the soft goods trade, the woollen mill workers, the boilermakers, upholsterers, and female boot operatives, and asked the Court to favourably consider the application. He did not intend to call any evidence. •

Mr. AV. Pryor, who represented the employers, said the application was quite unexpected by the employers, because there was not the slightest shadow of reason for it. For general information, he thought it would be as well to quoto some figures with respect to the cost of living, and the idea should not be allowed to spread abroad that the increase was-greater in this country than it really was. Ee quoted from the monthly abstract of statistics (September) to sliow that the increase was not so formidable as a general statement such as made by Mr. Paul made it appear. Statistician's all over the • world recognised that in times like these people naturally economised, and it was right that they should do so. The increase was really moderate, and not 40 or 50 per cent, as a general statement made it appear. As showing tho improved conditions of tho workers, Mr. Pryor quoted the record increases in the figures of the Post Office Savings Bank. He next dealt with the bonus of 7i per cent, granted last year, and explained that although it was intended to be confined to workers earning a certain minimum wage, it had actually resolved itself into a war bonus of 1\ percent, to all tho employees in the factories. He maintained that the workers in the federation wero well paid, and had money to spare, and instanced what occurred in connection with the Christmas and New Year holidays. The records of. the AVellington "Woollen Factory showed that U8 workers look one week extra last Christmas, that is a week more than the'fortnight allowed; i' 2 workers took two weeks extra, 21 took four weeks, and S eight weeks. That is to say, 235' workers out of 650 took extended holiday of from one week to eight weeks. In January, in the ICaiapoi Woollen Factory, about 0000 hours were lost from the same cause of workers taking extended holidays, lie presented returns compiled from the books of nine out of fen manufacturers in AVellington, which showed that the firms were paying on an average about 2G per cent, above the award rates; in Christchurch from 20 to 26 per cent., and in Dunedin about Mi per cent. Concluding, Mr. Pryor contended that there was no ground for the application, for the increase asked for was not warranted by the conditions, and the agreement entered into last year should be allowed to stand.

The Court reserved its decision. TAILORS' DISPUTE. The Wellington Tailors' Industrial Union of Workmen applied-for a new award which embodied an increase in wages and shorter hours, and with respect to bespoke work and chart orders all the sections of the clause were agreed to except a few words in clause 3, in respect to chart orders.

The employers desired the rates of wages and hours of work in the old award to be retained, and further asked for a complete change in the system of working:. At present the employers are bound (0 piece-work, and they now desire to have the right to engage workers 011 a weekly rate of wages, and also to subdivide the work, or, what the union term it engage in team work. Mr. if. J. Reardon appeared for the union, and Mr. AY. Pryor for the employers. The further hearing of tho case wan adjourned until 2 p.m. to-day.