ARBITRATION COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1920, Page 5

ARBITRATION COURT.

THE 0a BONUS. CLAIM BY TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Dec. 4. Applying for the 9a bonus for the Typographical Union, Mr. Chapman, on the union's* behalf, claimed then* was a big margin between the cost of production and land values and wages. In lPliLcompositors received £3 Os'weekly, at present £"> Is 3d. He objected to the reduction of hours and the payment for holidays being taken into account. The basic wage <p-day ought to be £5 18s 6d. Tliere was no unemployment: on the contrary, men had been ' recalled by the employers from superannuation or retirement. Mr. Pirani, for' the employers, said Mr. Chapman's figures were antiquated. Wages had increased 82 to 100 per cent. He laid particular stress on the advance in the cost of materials, and especially paper, which had .gone- from £l2 to £7O pel ton. For years a number of printing businesses had |Sot paid.dividends, at least 20 were in>'this position, and others: wgpe not prosperous. He pointed out that the mcfe -were earning ii]) to £8 3fe 7*l per weak.. He could not undci stand persons f earning such wages demanding a bonus * 'The greateit objection to it was the matter of public policy Newspapers were being cut down in sitae, and if charge l * agjajn increased, priori would have'to be baimfn] to! the community to clip the suapcV and ltHjrouhi'tid' dangerous to increase the pnee to 3$ It was in the public inteiest that newspaper should be helped and not forced to curtail the news. All their were being increased, yet the lowest wage was £5 Is 3d for 45 hours, as against £3 5s for 43 hours. Judgment in this and all other applications was reserved.