RATES OF WAGES.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20264, 5 August 1937, Page 10

RATES OF WAGES.

VARYING LABOUR CLASSEB. SPECIAL COURT SITTING. PRONOUNCEMENT TO BE MADE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, Thursday. In view of the difficulties confronting parties to industrial disputes arriving at settlements in conciliation councils owing to the varying rates of xvages which recently came into operation, the Court of Arbitration early in July announced its Intention of holding a special sitting at Auckland with a view to enabling it to make a pronouncement on the question of standard rates of wages for various classes of labour—skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled.

The registrar now advises that the court will hold this sitting at the Supreme Court, Auckland, commencing on August 23. At Christchurch the court Indicated that representative disputes might be selected for the purposes of the hearing but It has now decided to deal with the matter on a general basis so that the parties may present their views on the subject generally with a view to enabling the court to" make a pronouncement.

It Is proposed to allow representatives of Dominion organisations of employers and workers to express their views on the general question of rates of wages for the above-named classes and the court desires that such organisations should make arrangements for the appointment of not more than three advocates for each side and preferably for one leading advocate each. The court expects to be in a position to make an early pronouncement following the hearing.