FULL AGREEMENT

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 29, 4 February 1937, Page 2

FULL AGREEMENT

Hawke’s Bay Local Body Labourers “PROBABLY THEIR BEST AWARD IN HISTORY OF N.Z.” (Special to “Times.”) HASTINGS, Last Night. "A comjflGte agreement wiica was arrived at in conciliation represents probably tbe best award for labourers conceded by the representatives of local bodies in the history of this country,” said tno Conciliation Commissioner, Mr. M. J. Beardon, last evening in commenting upon the work of tho Council of Conciliation which has been engaged in Napier for the past two days in fixing an agreement as the basis of an award for most local-body employees in the Hawke’s Bay provincial district. In addition to a 40-hour week, several concessions not hitherto made to the workers have been granted. The agreement affects all laboureri employed by borough councils, towi boards, harbour boards and power boards in the Hawke’s Bay provincia' district, covers all aspects of the work including hours, wages and holidays and makes provision for younger work ers, in addition to adult labourers.

‘‘The ‘great worry of tho averago un skilled labourer is lost time througk bad weather,” said Mr. Beardon, ir reference to the inclusion of a claus< providing that an employee, after sia months’ service, should be placed on s minimum' weekly wage of £4 10/nnd that is a clause that eliminate! the greatest trouble of the unskilled labourer, .broken time. ’ ’

Other featuros which have not previously been included iu working agree ments are in regard to the holidays A worker will now be paid for the following holidays:—New Year’s Day Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzat Day, Sovereign’s Birthday (or any Dther day commonly accepted in lieo thereof in New Zealand), Labour Day -hristmas Day, Boxing Day and a show a y. In addition to these holidays, a worker will receive by this award a week’s holiday on full pay during each year of service for tho same employer. Both these features are new in that proviously pay was not granted for many >f tho statutory holidays of tho year and no provision was made for payQient for an annual holiday. Iho wages clause of the agreemcnl 3omes into force as from March 1, but the remainder will be immediately forwarded to the Court of Arbitration fvith a recommendation that it bo constituted an award by .the Court. Following is tho agreement, signed Dy the Mayor of Hastings, Mr. G. A. Maddison, the Mayor of Napier, Mr. C, 9. Morse, tho Hastings Town Clerk, Mr. Noel C. Harding, and the Napier oorough engineer, Mr. W. D. Corbett:— HOURS OF WORK.

A 40-hour week shall bo worked on Mondays to Fridays inclusive, although rertain exceptions to this rule have jccn made in order that essential pubic services, such as street cleaning, attendance at baths, cemetery work and ittendanco on beaches may bo carried )ut. WAGES. Labourers 2/3 an hour Bitumen and tar workers 2/4 an hour Drainlayers (ordinary) . 2/4 an hour Drainlayers (dirty work) 2/5 an hour Waterworks overseers £5 5/- a week Turncocks £5 5/- a week Full-time batliis attendants £5 5/- a week 3-fiarrymen, 12 feet off ground 2/4 an hour Others 2/3 an liour fortified men handling explosives 2/6 an hour Full-time pump attendants £5 5/r a week Part-time pump attendants 2/6 an hour Sai’deners 2/3 an hour Cemetery sextons .... £4 15/- a week Refuse collectors .... 2/4 an houi Gangers ]/- a day extra. Men sinking shafts over six feet deei Ld an hour extra. Napier council representatives ex pressed • themselves as willing to assist botany students who wished to gain experience to augment the scientific, side of their studies and at the saint time to earn a moderate wage. It was provided that horticultural students should be paid the following rates:— First .year, £1 a week; second year, £3 10/-; third year, £2 10/-; and there ifter at adult rates of pay. In regard .to the employment oi * youths on ordinary labouring work, i‘ was stipulated that youths up to tin ago of 17 should be paid £1 10/- * week, those up to the age of 18, £2 s week, those up to the age of 19 £2 12/< a week, and thereafter at adult rates o: pay.