ARRIVAL OF MAHENO.

Taihape Daily Times, 22 April 1919, Page 5

ARRIVAL OF MAHENO.

FIVE DEATHS ON VOYAGE

AUCKLAND, this day

The hospital j>hip Maheno arrived this morning with 24 officers, 4 nurses, and 36(5 other ranks. She brought the last of New Zealand's invalided soldiers. She sailed with ;>SO cot cases, which were reduced during the voyage to 55. Few case's on board are very serious. There were five deaths on the voyage: —Lance-Corpl. G. Graham. Awahuri; Vvt. T. Redfrew, Auckland: I'vt. T. o'Council. Christchurch; Driver P. Johnston, Gisbornc. The latter was given a military funeral at Colon, the others were buried at

sea. The Governor-General visited the ves sell on arrival here.

BASIC WAGE

FIXED BY YTHE COURT.

SKILLED AND UNSKILLED WORKERS.

DUNLDIN, April 19

The President of the Arbitration Court recently intimated that the court had in view the arranging of a basis of Avages for different classes of workThe court has ilbow filed a memorandum dealing with the scheme.

The memorandum states: "It is undesirable that, rates of wag'es of workers on an industry should be liable to variation at short intervals. The court has determined to fix the basic wage as •foSlows: Skilled workers 1/71 per hour; semi-skilled 1/41 to 1/0 (according to degree of skill); unskilled ma. The court decided that Adjustments of the war bonus should be made half yearly. The Government Statistician had advised that half-yearly periods ending 31st March and 30th September, would be the most equitable. He had undertaken to prepare an index showing the variation in the cost of living to the above wages. A bonus of 2?;d per hour is to be added to compensate workers for further increases in the cost of living up to March 31st last. This bonus will be readjusted as on 30th March each year. The scheme is subject to modification if necessary. It is hoped it wil'l be a working guide for Conciliation Councils. The bonus is excluded from computation of the payment for overtime. The court has determined to in future grant, substantial increases in amounts for overtime, as overtime is inimical to health. Overtime will be paid at the rate of time and a-half for the first three hours, and thereafter double time. It is hoped that overtime will thus be largely reduced. The present statement Iris no application with regard to the wages of females, nor workers un weekly or monthly saJlawes. Such cases will be dealt with on their merits.