TIMBER WORKERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 115, 13 April 1940, Page 8

TIMBER WORKERS.

WAGE INCREASES SOUGHT. OPPOSED BY EMPLOYERS. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, April 12. Various questions relating to the timber industry in New Zealand were argued in the Court of Arbitration today, when the employees sought a Dominion award, lor all industrial districts with the exception of Canterbury and claimed higher wages The New Zealand Sawmillers’ and Boxmakers’ Industrial Unions of Employers opposed the applications for increased wages, and after the hearing of evidence the Court reserved its decision. Mr Justice Tyndall presided, and associated with him were Air A. L Monteith (workers’ representative) and Mr W. E. Anderson (employers’ representative). Mr F. L. Turley (Greymouth) and Mr F. Craig (Auckland) appeared for the workers, and Messrs A. Seed and H. O. Bishop represented the employers. In assessing the rate to he paid to bushmen the Court should keep in mind three main points, Air Turley submitted: The actual value of the work performed; the danger involved in the performance of the work; and Iho climatic conditions under which the work must necessarily be performed and the isolated nature of the operations. The union claimed an annual holiday over and above the statutory holidays, and saw no valid reason why this should not be granted. Air Turley produced figures and statistics in support of his argument for increased remuneration for the workers, and said the rate of production a day was more under a 40-hour five-day week than previously under a 48-hour week of six days. Submitting his case for the employers, Air Seed said his figures would show that the output per man had not increased under the 40-hour week. The shorter hours worked in any case had been offset to some extent by improved methods of production. Referring to the question of living costs in the sawmilling districts, Air Seed said the rents of sawmill workers were a long way below city rates, and the accommodation available, had been greatly improved within recent years. He agreed that in the past some accommodation had been poor, but in many eases it had not been subject to rent. Air Seed said lie could not agree that the sawmillers were getting the returns mentioned in the figures supplied by Air Turley. If they were they could afford to pay higher wages, but the facts were that an extreme case had been quoted and the actual returns were very much lower. Timber prices were regulated and strictly limited, and only a small margin was allowed for interest and return of capital on wasting assets. No increases in timber prices had been admitted except to meet increased costs to the industry. and if costs were further increased for higher wages and paid holidays an application would have to be made for an increased price for timber.