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Taranaki Daily News, 16 June 1920, Page 5

UNKNOWN

ABE TRAMWAYMEN CT.TQTiq^M Question for the Py Telegraph.—Press AwocUtlflt Christchurch, Last MAt the Arbitration Court to-<nrl||fl Christehurch TramwayUnion asked that the agreement Wnß the Tramway Board, dated' MurtjwlM 1!)20, be amended in order to adjuwiH wages. Tlie application was MadMBM bring .the wages into accord wittffH Court's pronouncement at Qi*bom«|9| April 28 as to a basic wage and to meet the increased cost of )ivjgf9| Mr. H..T. Armstrong (for the UnilM ,said his Union asked the Court to |HH effects to its Gisborne pronouncemrßtHlH Ilia Honor said that concfaifyiH motormen, and other employees W«fl9 not touched upon in the tiisDorne nounccment. The conditions in tratnw|n| conceins did not obmiu in ordlfiarv dustries, and it was to ordinary indus- J tries that the Court referred in its Gin-"J borne pronouncement. The Union ha|l , hud substantial increases under thftjj agreement, and they covered the QiJjl borne pronouncement, for they, made on account of the cost'®# living. !■ ■ . . Mr. Armstrong said the Union Mig| have gone in with the tramwfcyfn ployces in other places and «etu»iU<S concession tliey had secured, but it#H derstood the hoard, after the agreem£j was made, would not oppose an apprati tion to t!ie Court for increases. ' , His Honor said the Coart could 'ibl go beyond its bounds. Th» only vant consideration was the incrfVMlK co.it of living since the agreement iMM made. / i.^m Mr. Thompson (manager of 'till tramways) said Mr. Armstrong; Mtitji to think his board had not kept fait) widi the Union, but the board haitdVii the Gisborne bonus of iy„d anYcrttr 'ti soon as it was announced. He went further and allowed it ott the tfotffiUta.: tion of overtime. Tile board, therefore nad done more than to comply with tbi Court's pronouncement. As-to the coitr of living, he might add that the present hourly wages in Christchurch were <9, per cent, in excess of the pre-war ratal, ' and were 34 per cent, higher, than th»i wages in Ihe previous award. "J The Court reserved its deciaiofl. ' V]