THE WORKERS’ BONUS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3473, 29 April 1920, Page 6

THE WORKERS ’ BONUS.

INCREASE OF SIX SHILLINGS.

GISBORNE, April 27.

Mr Justice Stliiigei‘ delivered an important judgnlent._ in the Arbitration Court this {lftC1'I10011’:! In April, .1919: the Court lixed the busic wage for skilled, semi-skilled, aiid 'u.n-skilled workers, to which was added Ia bonus of 2:‘_.(l per hour to conlp'ensat.e workers for the increased cosf -of living up to '3lst March, 1919, _and 'inti_nlated that the bonus would be adjusted as on September 30, and March 31 each year. In’Dccembor last the Statistician reported that it lvould be necessary to ',increase the bonus by a penny an hour _to hourly work_ers, :lild_ 4/ :1. week to‘ Weekly workers. This‘ iid(li'CiOllfll; ‘bonus was ac-eordingly gTa.rited and} made payé.l)le from .Tanual'y‘ 1 last.

The Court has now received a report from the Statistician in which he states that for the six—monthly period, ending March, 1920, .11 further increase of one penny halfpenny an hour to hourly \vol'l;el's, and, six shillings a week to ‘.\'eekly wol'l<el's is required in

‘order to compensate for the further linerease in the cost of living, including clothing. ’J.‘he' Court, therefore, will grant the bonuses recommended upon applications ‘made from’ time to time, as opportunity oEers.. [' The bonuses will be made payable gas from May Ist next, unless good 'cause is shown to the contrary. The‘ icase of juniors will be dealt with ac-M cording to its merits. In consequence of the general 51101-tage of labour, and‘ the ‘fact that employers in several in-,dustl-ies have in agreement. with the lworkers, raised the basic wage above ? those fixed by the Court, the Court has determined to increase the basic wage of workers gener-ally, as follows:—— Skilled workers, 2/ per hour; semiskilled, 1/8 to 1/10; unskilled, 1/‘T. To these basic wages will be- added the bonus of three pence an hour, which is intended to cover the increased cost of living to March 31, 1920. In making awards a'.fter the present date tlle.Coul't, except for speeial reasons, will fix the minimuni rates in accordance with. the above statement. Overtime rates will be fixed on the basic wages only, exclusive of the bonus.