BASIS OF AWARDS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 October 1922, Page 5

BASIS OF AWARDS.

JUSTICE FRAZER EXPLAINS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Oct. 4. In the Arbitration Court to-day Mr. Chapman, in the printers’ dispute, asked whether His Honor was in a position to anticipate the -variation of wages in consequence of any variation in the cost of living in any awards the court might make governing the typographical union. It was important to know whether the court would anticipate the variation of the cost of living and include such variation' in the award, thus obviating a subsequent appeal to the court as to whether the variation was included or not.

Mr. Justice Frazer replied that if the court intended to fix wages so as to include a forthcoming cost of living reduction the court always intimated the fact in making its award. “However, as far as the court’s pronouncement itself is concerned, as soon as we get the official figures (they are not ready yet), we will issue a preliminary pronounce-' went and fix the date for the hearing in the ordinary way.

Subsequently, referring to the questions with regard to overtime. Mr. Justice Frazer said the court was not going to try every union tnat came before the epurt. The whole tendency was to include the -basic wage and bonus in one flat rate and fix overtime on that. They had to arrive at some understanding. With respect to the rate of bonus it was a question of adjustment.