WORK AND WAGES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 165, 29 November 1912, Page 5

WORK AND WAGES.

LABOR ORGANISATION. By Telegraph—Press Association. Christehurch, Last Night. The Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Laborers' Union has appointed an organiser at £0 per week. THE DRIVERS' UNION. Christchurch, Last Night. The Hon. Prime Minister, as Minister of Labor, 'has written to Mr. Hiram Hunter, secretary of the New Zealand Federation of Drivers' Unions, in reply to Mr. Hunter's letter protesting against the wages awarded to drivers by the Court of Arbitration in a recent award. The Minister writes: "I understand that the desire of your Federation is that as the Court of Arbitration has awarded only £2 8s per week for one horse drivers, a minimum wage of Is per hour should be fixed by legislation. It should, of course, be understood that the rates fixed -by the Court in awards arc merely the minimum rates of employment, and any employee is at liberty to stipulate with his employer that he be paid a higher wage. I understand, however, that the rate awarded in the award you refer to, namely, £2 Ss for one-horse drivers, is 4s per week more tluin, that fixed in the previous Canterbury award, dated December \B, 1908. Your suggestion opens up a difficult question, inasmuch as to carry the same into effect would necessitate interference with the discretion of the Court of Arbitration, which is a tribunal specially set up to deal with industrial matters. The suggestion will, however, be carefully considered during the present recess, when reviewed generally." °