ARBITRATION AWARDS

Hokitika Guardian, 20 May 1929, Page 5

ARBITRATION AWARDS

STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT

By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, May £<>

In a memo to the Auckland S-toiie-masoris -award, Justice Frazer’ ha* embodied some remarks on stabilisation/ of wages) He reiterates what the Court has said before, that the cost of living is not tlie-only factor to lie considered. The general state of trade, and,'the position of tlie particular trade concerned have to be taken into account.

The Court has brought the rate for, unskilled labour up to Is lOd per hour or 60, per cent above the 1914 rate. * In the case of skilled .-.and semi-skilled labour 60 per cent,mdre> but lias’added toj;their rates tihql'same increase as to unskilled, which me?ns a lewer percentage on the whole. This was because the unskilled worker was worse off'hfiid tlie otliefs'wereJfeunlly paid more than the award rates. The function, offtjio Court is to fix minimum i-ates. -T'-" 60;-per cent increase tikis! givofi in l}ss, and the cost of living is, if anything, slightly'lower*'now! '* To fix the ih'jfiimuin rates as the basis of liigner wages now being paid to most workers, would probably have a detrimental effect oil; the'-trade,: } Th|AqU<Sst , iyp*''ol’ wages should be / viewed broadly, and it is worth noting the Court has since 1914 substantially increased the rates for many classes which were formerly the standard minimum. On the matter of wages generally, says Justice -Frazer, it appears to/fhe that owing to the variations in cost of living and conditions of employment in different Australian States, and different principles applied by wage-giving tribunals in that country, the Australian award rates cannot safely be taken as a guide in forming a New ZealtVnd award. LS