WORK AND WAGES.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1917, Page 8

WORK AND WAGES.

' A FIXE POINT. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Lust Night. In the Supreme Court the Inspector of Awards proceeded against the (las Company to recover a penalty for an alleged breach of the Northern Engineers' award 'by failing to pay the war bonus of a. penny per hour in addition to tho wages provided in the award. The facts were that the company before and after the engineers' award was made paid engineer* £3 6s for a 47 hours week, the Vorker being credited with working 48 hours. After the bonus was ordered the company paid for the actual hours worked, at the rate of Is 4%d per hour plus the war bonus of a penny, which resulted in the worker receiving, including war bonus, £8 Ss 7d for 47 hours worked. Evidence for the company showed it had been the practice for years to give the equivalent of an extra hour's work as a bonus, and when the award was made it was found there was no increase in the maximum rate of pay already paid, namely, Is 4y 2 d per hour. The company therefore gave the equivalent of an extra hour as a gratuity.

The opinion of the Court was that for the purposes of. the award the wages prior to the order of the Court re bonus must be considered as £3 fls for 47 hours. The Court upheld tho contention of the inspector that the war bonus should he in addition to the wages previously paid.

SPOILING, FOR A FIGHT,

'(Prom Our Own Correspondent.)'

Wellington, Fob. 10. The trouble that arose on the waterfront to-day, through the refusal of the men to handle coal on two ships, can only he regarded as a phase of the general unrest. The men objected to working with the Burton block, a device that has been in use for many years and that is admitted to facilitate coaling operations materially. They stated that they considered the bloc! - to be dangerous, but it does not appea" that this contention has been raised' previously, or that the appliance has any record of accident to its discredit. The attitude of both employees and employers suggests that the stoppage today \Zas regarded as part of a campaign rather than as a serious attempt to ventilate a real grievance. The position generally remains obscure. The Government has not used its power to take control of the wharves, and the employers, after lnaking their preparations, 'have not employed any labor outside the union. Botli parties are waiting for the proceedings begun before the Conciliation Council to reach a conclusion, and in the meantime work on the wharves proceeds. It would be inaccurate to say that it porceeds satisfactorily. Tlie men are working slowly, and the minor disputes that arise constantly al] tend to cause delay and loss. I The present situation cannot endure indefinite! v.