WORK AND WAGES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10617, 16 June 1920, Page 7

WORK AND WAGES

TBAMWAYHEN'S REQUEST

IMPORTANT POINT RAISED AT

CHRISTCHURCH.

PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.

CHRISTCHURCH, June 15.

In the Arbitration Court to-day the Christchurch Tramway Employees’ Union asked that the agreement with the Tramway Board, dated. March Gth, 1920, be amended in order to adjust wages. The application was made to bring wages into accordance with the court's pronouncement at Gisborne on April 27th as to tlxo basic wage and bonus to meet the increased cost of living. , Air 11. T. Armstrong (for the union) said the union asked the court to give effect to its Gisborne- pronouncement. His Honour said that conductors, motormc-n and other employees were not touched upon in the Gisborne pronouncement. The conditions in tramway concerns did not obtain in ordinary industries, and it was ordinary industries that tlie court referred to in its Gisborne pronouncement. The union had had substantial increases under the agreement, au( l they covered the Gisborne pronouncement. They were made on account of the cost of living. IAIr Armstrong :said, that the .union might have come in with the tramway «« employees in other places and secured tho concession they lin'd secured, but had ment was made, would not oppose the application to the court for increases. 358 His Honour said the court oould not go beyond its bounds, and the only rele--2® vaut consideration w'as the increased cost or living since the agreement was made. Air U. Thompson (manager of the tramways) said Air Armstrong seemed to think the board had not kept faith with tho rmion, but the board had given the Gisborne bonus of lid per hour as soon as it was announced.' He went further, and allowed it on the computation ot overtime. The board, however, had done more than to comply' with tho court’s pronouncement. As to tho cost of living. ho might add that the present hourly wages in Christchurch wore 62 per cent, in excess of tho pre-war rates, and were 34 per cent, higher than the wages in s' the previous, award. The court reserved its decision.

SHOP ASSISTANTS 1 DEMAND

PERNICIOUS ■ SYSTEM IN DRAPERY TRADE.

CHRISTCHURCH, June 15.

In tho Arbitration Court to-day Air R. D. Alartin, for the Christchurch Retail Sliop-Assiotants’ Union, asked for an additional bonus of 6s per week Air Cooper, for tho employers,, opposed the application as far as it apjilied to juniors, but not in respect to. adults. He said that if tho court could not omit tiro juniors it should take advantage of tho granting of tho bonus to remove inequalities in different grades. The increases in wages had been .particularly ragged, and the position was having a bad and unsettling effect, all round to both employers ■ and employees. Some employees were overpaid, and some were underpaid. Air Alartin said that a pernicious system was operating in the drapery ' trade in respect to girls’ wages. Air Cooper ysaid his remarks applied to the junior males, not to the girls.

Air Alartin said that married women, whose husbands were in good positions and could support two or three motorcars, were engaged in tho industry to the exclusion of single women. It was an evil that should be legislated against. His Honour said the application would be considered.