PLUMBERS ASK FOR INCREASE OF WAGES

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 229, 16 December 1927, Page 9

PLUMBERS ASK FOR INCREASE OF WAGES

ARBITRATION COURT RESERVES DECISION A N increase of wages to 3s an hour was asked by the Plumbers’ and Gasfitters* Union when incomplete recommendations from conciliation were before the Arbitration Court this morning. Mr. J. Clark, secretary for the union, for the employees based his claim largely on an increase of unemployment in the industry. He referred to a return for the 12 months ended April last, which showed that 113 men had lost through unemployment 2,914 hours, which at 2s 3d an hour amounted to £2,122 12s. From June to September this year 65 men had lost 1,202 J hours, which at 2s c % amounted to £1,082 ss. This, he said, showed that the trade was not improving. An extra 2d had been given to the carpenters on account of the time they lost through weather. Mr. Justice Frazer explained that the addition to the carpenters’ rates had been on account of wet weather, and the fine kit of tools that a worker had to maintain. Mr. Clark held that the plumbers lost just as much time because of wet weather and had to have just as extensive a kit of tools. Mr. S. E. Wright submitted that higher rates would make for more unemployment. He suggested that the wage rate for Auckland should be 2s 2d, the same as for the remainder of the Dominion. The tools of a plumber did not compare with those of a carpenter. Mr. Justice Frazer intimated that the court would take time to consider the wage rate for the award.