ARBITRATION COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 20 May 1931, Page 5

ARBITRATION COURT

FURTHER EVIDENCE. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 19. When the Arbitration Court adjourned this evening, argument on the work ers’ side on the question of whether a general order relating to wages should be issued had been completed, and a start had been made with the hearing of the evidence called by the employees’ advocates. Mr J .Roberts stated that he expected it would bo possible to bring the workers’ case to a close by tomorrow night. Replying to Mr Justice Frazer, Mr Bishop said he would in that case he prepared to submit his reply on Saturday. Addressing the Court on behalf of the majority of the trade unions in the Otago district Mr J. Robinson said the chief thing that hnd impressed him about the employers’ application was one affecting the whole country and every industry the employers had seen fit to make only a general statement relative to the farming interests, and to submit evidence from only three, witnesses, representing agricultural and pastoral pursuits. The first witness called by Mr Roberts was Mr R. Fulton (Secretary of the New Zealand Dairy Workers’ Association), who siiitl that. the organisation which ho represented strongly objected to any reduction in wages being made by a general order. The dairy workers, under thei reward, could be called 1 upon to work seven days a week of sixty hours for low wages. He considered the main cause of the farmers* present economic difficulties could he attributed to the high prices they paid for land and to the quality of the cheese produced. He quoted figures which he said showed that when the New Zealand dairy factories produced full cream cheese, the price paid for it on the London market had been ■very little below that paid l for Canadian cheese but as soon as standardisation had come along, the margin In favour of Canada had increased from Is 8d per hundredweight to 27s per cent. It also was the opinion of the dairy factory workers that the waxing of cheese was one of the many causes which affected the quality. This method had been adopted in order to retain as much moisture as possible. It seemed in many cases to have assisted unscrupulous cheese makers in obtaining an abnormally high yield at the expense of the quality of the cheese. Examined by Mr Roberts, Mr Fulton said there was no general demand among the dairy fanners for a reduction of wages. WELLINGTON, May 20, Further evidence wm called in the Arbitration Court this morning when tiie hearing of the worker’s ease in opposition to the application for a genera] order of reducing rages was continued, Mr W, Maddison, who produced extracts from the Bank of New Zea-' la no] bnljjln.ee Isheet, expressed the opinion that it would, at the end of the 1930 financial year, have been possible to have paid a 7} per cent, dividend and to. have allowed for a 2j per cent, transfer to th 6 reserve and still permitted an additional £287,600 to have gonfe into circulation. This sum he said could have been saved on dividends and transfers to the reserve and would have provided wages for 1150 men at £5 per week, ■and these 'men in turn would have provided work for another 1150. M)* Miaddison submitted, a theory in which lie contended the most disrupting feature of commerce and industry was to be found in one factor, an excess of profits. Air Bishop did not cross examine witness, remarking, “It sounds so good, I feel there must be a catch in it somewhere, but I haven’t- been abli© to find it so far.” (Laughter). A. Parlane, Secretary of New Zealand Drivers Federation said in his industry rationing work had already boen carried out to thfe exent of ten to twenty-eight per cent. This had been done largely at the request of the men to avoid unemployment.

WELLINGTON, May 20

F. Turley, Secretary of Westland [ Timber Workers’ Association, said a ton per cent, wages reduction in the sawmilling industry would result in a saving of only £4 7, s ‘ 6cl in the cost, of a six roomed house, It could not affect the prices of butter and fruit boxes, and be wag unable to say h°w the primary producer was going to benefit. Mr J. McCombs stated be proposed to call three witnesses with the object of showing that as a result of wages in many industries having been brought down to the award minimum rates, and also in consequence of rationing work, a large number of workers had already suffered a drop in' real earnings. Witnesses would state that if wages were further reduced in such cases, many workers would have to g° to Hospital Boards for relief.

Evidence on those lines was given by A. W. CVoskery, who referred to rationing work in the retail trade, and said he did not think the master butchers or grocers desired a reduction of wages. WELLINGTON May 20.

Similar evidence was given by J. Reid on behalf of the timber workers and brewery workers and P. Salmon on behalf of the shop assistants. Tile case is proceeding.