FLAXMILLING DISPUTE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 344, 21 March 1910, Page 5

FLAXMILLING DISPUTE.

ARBITRATION COURT'S AWARD, j By Telegraph.—Press' Association. I Wellington, aSturdav. The award in the matter of the dis- i pute between the Manawatu Flaxmill employees and the flaxmillers was made to-day. The award provides for a 48 hours' working week, the employer being entitled to arrange the hours according to the exigencies of his particular business. The jisual provisions are made for payment of overtime and holidays. The rate of pay are fixed as follows:—Feeders Is 3d per hour, head jpaddockcrs is iy,d per hour, bench loaders Is Id per hour, washers Is Id per hour, catchers, assistant paddoekers, sorters and shakers Is per hour, rouseabouts 10'/ 2 d per hour, drivers A.'2s per week, stripper keepers to receive not less than 2s 8d per day in addition to the wages paid to them. The minimum rate for piecework paddocking is to be 23s 6d per ton from April 1 to September 30, an.l 20s per ton from October 1 to March 31, and when carting is done 5s per ton in addition to the foregoing rates. The minimum rate of pay for scutching is •to be £1 6s per ton. The rate "for cutting flax shall be settled, as heretofore, .by agreement between the employer and employee; also the wages oi cooks and their assistants. Labor not otherwise specified shall be paid at fhe rate of Is per hour. Wages of youths shall be, from 10 to 17 ye°ar, 15s a week; 17 to 18, £1 a week; 18 to 1!), £1 5s per week; 19 to 20, £1 10s per week; 20 to 21, £1 15s per work. Where food is provided by employers it shall be of good quality and sufficient in quantity, and workers shall not he charged more than 15s per week for board. Special precautionary measures against smoking in the camp and in the proximity of dry fibre are to be taken, also conditions are laid down governing the employment of under-rate workmen. Such workers shall have their wages fixed by the stipendiary magistrate oi the district after due notice to the union. The customary preference clause is inserted in the award. The provisions of the award do not apply to the workers of the native race at Mr. J. (!. Rutherford's Waverlev mill, nor the mill of Mr. J. Burke at Wairoa. In the event of new machinery being introduced into any flax mill ana nr»» processes of manufacture being adopted which alter the nature or amount of .work necessary in connection with any operation in the manufacture of hemp, the rates of pay for such work shall lie arranged by mutual agreement between the employers' association and the union, and failing such agreement shall be referred to the court for settlement. The award becomes operative on April 1 and remains in force to March 31 1913.