EXTRA PENNY TO LOCAL BODIES’ LABOURERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 168, 6 October 1927, Page 15

EXTRA PENNY TO LOCAL BODIES’ LABOURERS

COURT’S PRINCIPLE OPPOSITION FROM COUNTRY POUNTRY local authorities oppoeed in the Arbitration Court this morning the court’s principle of awarding an extra penny an hour to local body labourers. On behalf of the Auckland provincial local bodies* labourers, Mr. J. Sutherland, secretary of the Union, made application for the fixing of the wages clause of their award, all other clauses having been agreed to in conciliation. In support of his application for the fixing of the general labour rate at Is lid, Mr. Sutherland quoted the court’s own principle of giving local bodies’ labourers Id an hour above the basic Is 10d, and pointed out that the wage fixed by the court was a maximum. Mr. S. E. Wright, on behalf of the local bodies, opposed the rise from Is lOd and when his Honour pointed out that the local authorities had previously agreed to the principle he drew attention to the unemployment in the country districts and the high rates there. Any further increase would mean more unemployment. His Honour stated that the court had adopted the principle. It had been influenced by what it had found to be the practice. “I don’t say the principle is sound and scientific,” said Mr. Justice Frazer, “but we found it was accepted by the local authorities themselves.” Mr. Sutherland said he did not take the argument from high rating very seriously, for the reason that local bodies could find money when they wanted it. He went on to refer to increases in the cost of living. “Here's butter gone up,’* he said. His Honour: I can tell you that the cost of living has been nearly stationary for five years, and that’s including butter, beer, and every other thing.” His Honour intimated that the court would consider the clause and give its decision later.