THE FLAXMILLING INDUSTRY

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3663, 9 July 1927, Page 2

THE FLAXMILLING INDUSTRY

NEW AWARD. Hie Arbitration Court, in giving its award in the Wellington district flnimills dispute, states that, the only matters referred to the Court were wages, overtime and term of award. The evidence and argument submitted to the Court were voluminous, but not sufficiently precise in. detail to enable the Court to arrive at a dear'understanding as to tlie earnings of the workers. Some rates have been increased and others have been left as at present. In view of possible changes in the methods of (lax-milling, and of alterations in the conditions affecting the industry, the Court reserves the right to suspend, alter, amend, or vary any of the provisions of this award, either of its own motion, or, with the leave of the Court first obtained, upon the application of any party of this award. Mr. Scott did not agree, in every case, with the decision of the Court in respect of the wage increases awarded. WAGES AND RATES OF PLAY. The Court fixed the minimum rates of wages as follows: Feeders, pressers, and graders, 2s per hour; stripper keepers, 2s 3fd per hour ; horse drivers, £4 5s per week. No deduction shall be made from this weekly wage for bad weather or holidays, or for any other cause other than for tinie lost through the worker’s default, and this wage shall include attendance' to horses on Sunday, week days, and holidays. -

Paddockers, Is 10id per hour; workers not otherwise specified, Is 10M1 per hour; automatic scutchers, 2-press, IGs Gd per ton; 1-press, 17s 6dper ton; hand scutchers, with power press, 31s per ton; without power press, 32s per ton; without pressing, 25s per ton; paddocking, winter, 28s per ton; summer, 25s per ton; carting (extra), 8s Gd per ton.

Winter is April to September inclusive, and summer is October to March inclusive.

Compulsory stacking, 2s Gd per ton; cutting flax, hook, 7s Gd per ton; knife lfis per ton.

“Cutting flax” shall mean and include cutting, tying, carrying and stacking at a convenient place for loading in,trucks or drays. Tramming by arrangement; scales shall be provided by the employer; the wages of cooks and their assistants shall be settled by agreement between the employer and the worker. EMPLOYMENT OF YOUTHS. Employers may employ youths in or about the work of flaxmilling at not less that the following rates per week: From 15 to 16 year’s, £1 10s; from 16 to 17, £1 15s; from 17 to IS, £2 3s; from 18 to 19, £2 13s; from 19 to 20, £3 3s; over 20 years of age, award rate of wages for adults. OVERTIME. All time worked in excess of eight and three-quarter hours on any day shall be deemed to be overtime, and shall be paid for at the rate of time and a half for the first four hours and double time thereafter; provided that with regard to padjdoekers and) fibre-carters the rates shall be time and a quarter for the first two hours and time and a half thereafter. The award will come into force on July 11, 1927, and shall continue in force until July 11, 1929.