INCREASE IN WAGES

Southland Times, Issue 24869, 8 October 1942, Page 2

INCREASE IN WAGES

New Award For Tanners Increases in wages are provided in the Canterbury, Otago, and Southland Tanners’ Award, which has been Issued by the Court of Arbitration. The matters referred to the Court related to wages and classifications, annual holiday, and term of award. In other respects the award embodies the terms of settlement arrived at by the assessors in Conciliation Council. The employers’ representative, Mr W. Cecil Prime, 'is not in agreement on the question of wages, and in his dissenting opinion he states that “two years ago the parties agreed on rates, and there has been, no fresh pronouncement to warrant a Senr

eral increase; nor has it proved during the hearing that there had been any changes in conditions to warrant either departure from the existing rates or a large increase in the number of classifications. It seems that, if workers' organizations agree to rates, such rates are not recognized as setting a precedent, although if employers anywhere agree to any increase the occasion is seized upon immediately as a reason for urging its adoption as a new standard. lam at a loss to understand why the Increases have been awarded.” The minimum rates of wages range from 2/4 an hour for “all other workers” to for curriers. Youths under 16 years of age are to be paid £l/2/6, and the scale rises to £3/15/- for the age group 20-21.