BONUS TO WORKERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1920, Page 5

BONUS TO WORKERS.

TO MEET LIVING COSTS. AX INCREASE MADE. By Telegraph.—Press Association.

Gisborne, Last Night. Mr. Justice Stringer delivered an important judgment in the Arbitration Court this afternoon. In April, 1919, the Court fixed the basic wage lor skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled workers to which was added a bonus of 2Vid per hour to compensate workers for the increased cost of living up to March 31', 1919, and it fras intimated that the bonus would be adjusted as, on September 30, and March SI of each year. In December last, the Statistician reported that, it wov.'d be necessary to increase the bonus by Id per hour to hourly workers, and 4s per week to weekly workers. This additional bonus was accordingly granted, and made payable from January 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, a further increase of lia per hour to hourly workers and 0s per week to weekly workers is required, in order to compensate, them for the further increase in the cost of living, including clothing. The Court therefore, will grant the bonuses recommended upon application,? made from time to time as opportunity offered. Bonuses will bo made payable as from May 1 next, unless good cause is shown to the contrary. In the ease of juniors if will be dealt with according to their merits. In consequence of the general shortage of labor and of the exact employment, several industries have an agreement. with workers who have raided the basic wages, above those fixed by the Court. The Court has determined to increase the basic wages of workers generally as follows:—Skilled workers 2s per hour, semi-skilled Is 8d to Is lOd, unskilled Is 7d- To these basic wages will be added a bonus of 3d per hour which is intended to cover the increased cost of living to March 31, 1920. In making the award after the present date the Court, except for a special reason, will fix the minimum rates in accordance with the above statement, and the overtime rate will be fixed on the basic wage, only exclusive of the bonus. j