ARBITRATION COURT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 259, 29 July 1919, Page 7

ARBITRATION COURT

APPLICATION FOR AMENDED

AWARDS

IiIUBER WORKERS AND STATIONARY

ENGINE-DRIVERS

Tho; Court of Arbitration- yesterday heard: union applications for the amend-ment-of awards. Mr. Justico Stringer presided, and until him were Mr. W. •ocott (assessor for tho employers) and Air. J. M'Culknigh (assessor for the' employees). /n' "'■II applied i'or. an amendment ot tho Wellington timber yards and sawmills employees' award. Mr. W. A. W. wrenfell represented tho employers. ; Ilie union' asked .for an increase in wages: amounting to M, per hour to all employees. The rates demanded -.-were, therefore, for first-class machinist, Is. KM. per hour; for sccond-class machinist, Is. 8d: per hour; for first sawyer, Is. 9d. per hour; for second sawyer. Is. 7d. per hour; for box-makers, Is. 7d. per hour; for coopers, Is, 7d. per hour; for head yardman, 2s. lOd. per week; for yardlhan, Is. 7id. por hour; for yard labourer, Is. 7d; per hour; casual labourer, Is, 7d. per hour; The award al!ow9 a war bonus of 10 per cent., so that to-«U the abovo rates the bonus must be added. Mr. Read asked that the increases be made retrospoctivo for a time, 'bccauso'tho union had been' willing to negotiate somo. timo ago when the employers had riot. Mr. Read said that the union's claim was -aimed at bringing the "real wages" of tho employees to-day up to tho '1914 standard.- 'As compared with workers e.sewhere, Wellington workers generally were entitled to special consideration, in viow of the highqr cost of living in Wellington city.. .... ..' Mr. Grenfell said that the employers wero prepared to- accept tho decision , given by tho Court'in the North Canterbury oa.se. Ho' pointed out that the Court • _ had on soveroli previous occasions declined to grant a differential rate for Wellington- workers, and he urged that tho principle be applied to the case under consideration. He ■ could see no grounds for Mr. Read's application to have the amendment of the nward/mado retrospective.

Mr. Justice Stringer said that-only in an exceptional case would retrospection lw allowed.

Tho Court -reserved its decision. Mr. Read applied also for amendment of the Wellington traction, and stationtiy engine-drivers' award. The union asked for an increase of 25.-fid. in tho daily rates to all employees. Mr. Justice Stringer inquired-whether the union was willing to accept the Auckland amendment. ■ , Mr. Read replied that it was not, owing to the higher cost of living- in' Wellington. -.

His Honour said that the cost of the main food groups being practically tlio same in both Auckland and Wellington, the only Jung that the union could plead was a difference in rent. "The question is, said his Honour, "can we see 1 our way to do what wo have not hitherto <lone. that is, jnake some, special allowtnce to Wellington workers on account of rent?

Mt, Grenfell sa-id that the employers ivora practically prepared to accept the Auckland decision,'(for an increase of .Is. Gd. per day)-but they desired to urge most strenuously that the increase be grantecl.bv way of n war bonus, ;nd not be granted as a flat rate. - also CC ' S ' 0n y in tho above case