THE BASIC WAGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 August 1920, Page 5

THE BASIC WAGE.

WHAT, DOES IT MEAN?. H QUESTION FOR THE CKOULQ - . *} &i By TeletTipn.—Press AssooUUoa,. >f ; Wellington, Ust &{#§§ At the Arbitration Court tO-d»y,||| application for an interpretation ot'Sm Wellington united furniture **4|l award, made in January last, waa'u§H pitted by the Inspector of Award* 4hl R. T. Bailey). ■s£& The question at issue was stitutcd a "basic" wage—the rate laid down by the ■ ordinary rates paid by the eaptonii Cinder clause 3 of the award 7t'Jjtl directed that overtime for woA 'mffl before the ordinary hours of MWml| ing work, or after the ordinary «5| for ceasing work, should.be paid WM basic wage as follows: "Time and Awl for firßt three hours, thereafter, doSSI time until the ordinary time for «f|i mencingwork next day if worked mi Mr. Bailey said the interpretaljoff Sil the award had arisen as foQom3|*|i firm had several men receiving' iffM] an hour ordinary time. wcrk overtime what rate of pay tHpSlj they receive!" Siring the March several mei worked 24 Ms| overtime, and we're fitly paid at thf fugs of time and a auai i.r' on the r«ej|l| ceived, namely, *XS 10s and £f JMM week. The employer contended thfts£l overtime should only be paid 4t?!w 10$ d an hour, the minimum rati iitm ordinary time fixed by the award."' Tnlj men concerned, however, received ta' Cm and 2s SJd an hour ordinary tinU) ium| if the employer's contention was JOtaflJ the men would only receive 2s 9|d «Jk hour for working overtime.' Surely! tbQjfci could never have been contemplated bM! tlie- Court of Arbitration? •:3 The question to be determined waif What construction should be plactd <oHli the words "basic wage." ' Mr. SaUtfjj maintained that in the case of an ,<n| ployee receiving 2s 6d per hour that vM his basic wage. Therefore should be paid on the flat rate, and on the war bonus. In Mr. Btllmtotj opinion the basic wage meant thf *w£ dinary" rate of pay received by 'ih*, men. 4 ' \ On behalf of the employers, Hr..Wf Grenfell argued thatK the- "basic'f-, vm| meant the "minimum" wage. Whfn.'W' matter was discussed before the Cwf\ ciliation" Council an understanding waif reached tha,t the basic wage should be the "miiiimum rate of pay provided for. under the award. Thfc employkea w*ttv offered, time and a quarter on, their;* actual .wages, or time and a half basic wage, and they accepted the.latwrt' proposal. * \- r His Honor remarked t that the point ajf issue was highly important,, add the?' Court would give a written jodgpient ob| it. J ; \ ;*