The Drivers' Union

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 91, 13 December 1912, Page 13

The Drivers' Union

PROTEST AGAINST AWARD.

PRIME MINISTER'S REPLY,

The Hon. the Prime Minister, as Minister of Labor, has written to Mr. Hiram Hunter, secretary of the New Zealand Federation of Drivers' Unions, in reply to Mr. Hunter's letter protesting against the wages awarded the drivers by the Court of Arbitration in the recent award.

The Minister writes: "I understand that ttlio desire of your federation is that as the Court of Arbitration has awarded only £2"Bs. per week for onehorse drivers, a minimum wage of Is. per hour should be fixed by legislation. It should, of course, be understood that the rates fixed by the court in the award are merely minimum rates of employment and any employee is at liberty to stipulate with his employer that lie be paid a higher wage. 1 understand, however, that the rate awarded in the award you rofor to —namely, £12 Bs. for one-horse drivers—is 4s. per week more than that fixfd in a previous Canterbury award, dated December 18, 1908. Your suggestion opens up a difficult question, inasmuch as to carry the same into effect would necessitate an interference with discretion of the Court of Arbitration, which is a tribunal specially set up to deal with industrial matters. The suggestion will, however, be carefully considered during the present recess, when the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act is being reviewed generally."