ARBITRATION COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 20 October 1932, Page 4

ARBITRATION COURT

PRIVATE HOTEL WORKERS. TO BE HEARD ON NOVEMBER 29. (Ver Vi ess Association— Copyright.} WELLINGTON, November 19. Private hotel workers’ award expired on the 22nd of last month and under the amended legislation the Workers’ Union made application to the Arbitration Court tor the wages of female woiwe. s to be fixed.

When the date for hearing was discussed by the Arbitration Court, tire Court suggested a joint app.ication might be mane by the parties for an amendment to the award for the rates of wages of females to be reduced by five per cent until such times as the Court was ab.e to hear the application, on or ahou.t November 2D. When the case was called to-day, Mr Mountjoy, for the employers, informed the CLurt that the suggestion for the amendment of the award was not approved by employers throughout the Dominion. It was urged the 1932 amendment to the LC.A. Act was emergency legislation and in view •of the emergency of the case, the Court should fix an early date for hearing of the application. It was pointed out that many private litoelkeepers were in a desperate position and the fixation of wages should not be held up unduly.

Mr Young for the workers, said it would not he possible to go on with the case until November 29, The Court retired and considered ths position

On resuming Justice Fraser said the hearing would take place about 29th November, and the Court reserved to itself the power to hack date wages to October 24, to the exfitent cf the reduction agreed upon in the case ot licensed hotels.

HOTEL WORKERS’ AWARD. WELLINGTON, October 19. The Arbitration Court sat to-day for the purpose of ratifying the terms of the new licensed hotel workers’ Dominion award. Air Mountjoy represented the employers and Mr F. G. Young the hotel workers. A number of minor amendments were made.

The award, as ratified, provides for a 48 hour week and not more than ten hours in a day, without payment of overtime. The wage classification was amended. The classification of seven or eight hundred kitchens was. deleted and provision made for power of employment in country hotels where not more than three workers are employed of a female cook at £l/17/6 per week.

Provision was made for the interchange cf duties in several departments. The present rates of wages has been reduced by five per cent. Provision has been made for the rationing of workers, and other provisions of the award have been amended to give relief to employers without prejudicing the interests of workers.