COST OF LIVING

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 27, 27 October 1920, Page 6

COST OF LIVING

EXTRA BpNUS MAY BE

GRANTED

ALL UNIONS TO BE TREATED ALIKE

Bi Toleiiraali—Press . Association. Christchunjli, October 26. The belief among workers that tho Arbitration' Court will shortly announce an extra bonus on wages to meet the hjghei cost of living during the past 6ix months ■was referred to at this morning's sitting of the Arbitration Court. Mr. R. D. Martin asked the Court to include in an order the additional bonuses to be given for the September quarter's increase in the cost of livinr Mr. Justice' Stringer: What is th 6 bonus? Mr. Martin; We don't know. Mr. Justice. Stringer: Neither do we. Mr. Martin: The extra cost of living should be easily known as the Government could supply figures. The prcsftiu position is an injustice to the workers, Mr. Justice Stringer: They will nn« have to wait till the -Court comes round again to get the bonus Mr. Martin: Some employers aro only just paying the Juno bonus. Later in the sitting, Mr. H. Huntei again raised the subject. Mr. Stringer said the Court would repeal what it had stated at Dunedin. that Hie anions should file applications foi bonuses immediately after_ the Court fc pronouncement and not wait till the evrof the Court's sitting at the "carticulai place, as othorwise employers were taken by surmise. If the parties asrreed to payment of the bonus, the papers could be forwarded to the Court wherever it was sitting, and an order would be made accordingly. There had been several cases where-several months had elapsed before applications were made. Mr. Hunter asked if the Court 1 would hear applications for the new bonu6 at the present Christchurch sittings. His Honour: No, Wc have to go to other places, and until we know what the pxnet fitrures are we cannot say weal should be the bonus. Mr Hunter said it was freely stated 1 that the iigures were obtainable from the Government Statistician. _ His Honour: We know nothing of that. Mr. F. Cooper asked the Court if u had vet officially announced that there would be an extra bonus as from No/His Honour: No. The Court hss made no such announcement, but. in all probability (here will be, judging by the re- ' Mr.' Hunter said he thought the Courl was lo rev ; ew the position everv six months. .. . .

His Honour: That is so. Mr. Hunter: Most of the unions are applvinq for a bonus without stating the amount The, drivers, for whom I am , HteWm.rf?o«"wU ™^to be 011 the safe side. Air W. Scott (employers representative)' intimated that he did not.think the employers Ronevflllv would obietl to navment of tho new - bonus. His Honour said the tonus. if any, would be* paid as from the same date, It would make no difference to union* when the Court made its announcement, all would be' treated alike. Mr. Hunter: Somo employers mn.v ob-

' C ftis Honour: Supposing they do. They will hive to nav just the same. Mv experience suggests that these obiechons can usually be overcome by gentl? perBU Mr° n H Worrall, in referring to the amended'award for tho general hibour1m that tho new agreement had included an extra bonus of 2d. an hou. anticipation of the Court's forthcoming award. If the bonus should fortunHonour (interjecting): FortunWorrall: I- am speaking from the workers' point of view. His Honour: T tl.ink.it will be very unfortunate from the viewpoint of the workers and everyono else if the bonu6 should be more than twopence.