RABBITERS' AWARD

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 72, 17 December 1937, Page 6

RABBITERS' AWARD

Agreement Reached in Conciliation ELASTICITY IN HOURS Tbe fact tbat Rabbit and RabbitProof Fencing Boards throughout New Zealand bad been separated from tbe otber rural local bodies in tbe matter of tbe industrial dispute, and bad reacbed a complete agreement as to tbe scbedule of an employees' award, was mentioned tbis morning by Mr. Bruce Ivelly, secretary of tbe Nortb Island Rabbit Boards' Assoeiation. "When tbe dispute came before the Conciliation Couneil at Wellington recently, representations to bave tbe rabbit and kindred boards separated from tbe otber rural local bodies were agreed upon by all parties coneerned," said Mr. Kelly, "and it is interesting to note that we were able to reacb complete agreement on all points in just over three bours, while tbe otber bodies took just on three and a half days. " The award is applicable to the whole of New Zealand, and, while the rates of pay are substantially bigber tban has been tbe case for the Soutb Island, tbey are on a par witb tbe rates ruliug in a number of Nortb Island districts. An interesting provision of tbe award is tbat no fixed number of bours is ineluded, the hours of work being arranged to suit eacb board, but, where practicable, tbey shall not exceed 40 a week, and, where practicable, employees shall be allowed a boliday on Saturday in each week. To cornpensate for tbc elasticity of bours, it is provided tbat workers shall be granted two weeks ' boliday on full pay for eacb year of service witb tbe same einployer. Tbe scale of minimum wages or salaries as set out by tbe award are as follow: — Inspectors, not less tban £260 ihe first year, rising by annual increments of £10 to £300, therealter by mutual arrangement; rabbiters, £4 8/4, rising to £4 10/- after June 1 next in. the event of completion of a year's service; working inspectors, £4 12/6; camp cooks, £4 15/-; other workers, £4 8/4; casual workers, 2/4 an hour; youths under 18 years, £2, between 18 and 19 years £2 7/6, between 19 and 20 years £2 15/-, and between 20 and 21 years £3, tbe proportion of youtbs to be one to three adult workers. Another interesting feature of tbe award is that it is made retrospective to June 1, 1937, and continues in force until May 31, 1939.