The Drivers' Award

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 87, 15 November 1912, Page 2

The Drivers' Award

DISSATISFACTION WITH THE

COURT'S DECISION.

AN APPEAL TO THE PRIME

MINISTER,

The award given by the Arbitration Court some time ago has created so much dissatisfaction amongst drivers that it has been decided to appeal to the Government, asking it to bring in legislation to fix a minimum wage of Is. per hour. In accordance with this decision, Mr. H. Hunter, secretary of the Federation, has sent the following letter to tha Hon. W. F. Masscy, Prime Minister, who is also Minister of Labor: —

"I have been instructed by the New Zealand Federation of Drivers' Unions Industrial Association of Workers to inform you that it wishes to record its protest against the decision given by tho Arbitration Court in the awards given by it in the drivers' disputes and filed on October 18, 1912. These awards prescribe a 48 hours' week for drivers' ordinary working hours, exclusive of time occupied in necessary attendance upon horses, which must not exceed eight hours in any one week, which means 56 hours a week total. The minimum wage granted for a onehorse driver is £2 Bs. per week, 10' d. per hour. The Drivers' Federation, which embraces every Drivers' Union in New Zealand, considers it has been very harshly treated by the Court awarding its members less than Is. per hour, and, therefore, has decided to urge the Government to pass legislation making provision for a minimum wage of not less +Viau Is. per hour for all time worked. Tho awards given in the drivers' dispute apply to Auckland, Gisborno, Nanier, Wancranui, Palmerston North, Mastorton. Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin."