ADJUSTING WAGES.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 January 1922, Page 5

ADJUSTING WAGES.

ARBITRATION COURT’S POWERS. IMPORTANT PROPOSALS. (By Wire—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. The Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill was introduced tonight. It separates an Arbitration Court Judge from the Supreme Court, and provides that in the election of assessors no union shall have more than three votes. The railwaymen are not to vote at all.

Very important provisions relate to the amendment of awards and agreements having regard to the cost of living. Every provision wages or granting bonuses nn accordance with any increase in the cost of living is to cease to operate on April 30, 1922. The Court of Arbitration, after that date, may proceed to ascertain the rate of increase or decrease in the cost of living as on March 31, 1922, and September .30, 1922 respectively, as compared with the average cost/ of living for the six months ended September 30, 1920. and may, by a general order, increase or reduce wages as it considers just and equitable. The Court is to have regard to the economic and financial conditions affecting trade and all other relevant considerations, and may make such increase or decrease as it thinks just and equitable, having regard to a fair standard of living. The general order will be filed in each district, and will operate from May 1, 1922, and will be reviewed as from November 1, 1922, and shall continue in order for six months or until varied by a subsequent order. The Court may exclude sections of workers from the general order if it thinks fit. It shall not reduce the pay of any workers to a lower wage than will enable them to maintain a fair standard of living. The Bill further provides that every person who dissuades, or attempts to dissuade, any two or more workers from accepting work under the conditions of an award or agreement with intent to defeat the provisions of the award or to prevent work proceeding under the award, or in furtherance of a dispute between workers and employers, shall be liable to a fine of £U<) in the case of a Worker bound by the award or agreement, and £5O in the case of any person other than a worker bound by the agreement. A similar provision relates to employers, the penalties being £5O and £lOO respectively.