INCREASE SOUGHT.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20280, 24 August 1937, Page 2

INCREASE SOUGHT.

STANDARD WAGE RATEB. WORKERS’ CASE PRESENTED. (Special to Times.) AUCKLAND, Tuesday. Arguments for higher wages for workers in all industrial occupations in the Domnion were adduced by Mr J. Roberts, of Wellington, representative of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, in opening the workers’ case yesterday before the Arbitration Court, which is being asked to decide standard rates of wages for skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers. Mr Justice O’Regan presided and with him were associated Mr W. Ceoil Prime, employers’ representative, and Mr A. L. Monteith, workers’ representative. Employers were represented by Mr D. I. Macdonald, secretary of the Canterbury Employers’ Association, Mr M. B. O’Shea, general secretary of the NeAv Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation, and Mr I. C- Howard, acting-sec-retary of the Auckland Employers’ Association. The three workers’ representatives were Mr Roberts, Mr F. D. Cornwell, secretary of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, and Mr P. M. Butler, secretary of* the General Labourers’ Union. “ Reasonable Standard.” Mr Roberts submitted that a man, bis wife and three children required between £2GO and £2BO a year to have a reasonable standard of living. Semiskilled \vorkers should receive at least an additional to 3d an hour aboA’e the standard rate mentioned, and skilled workers should receive a weekly wage of not less than £5 15s a week, or If an hourly rate was awarded, it should not be less than 3s an hour.

“ Personally, I am of the opinion that wage-cutting Avas the principal cause of the depression in the first instance,” Mr Roberts said. “ I have no doubt that the repercussions of the Avage cuts imposed on the workers in Great Britain from 1925 onAvard were felt in this country long before'the Avage cuts were imposed by Ihe Court of Arbitration in 1931. Mr Roberts also contended that the time had arrived Avlien a 40-hour week should be applied to alt industries and that, all work done on Saturdays should be regarded as overtime. If any industry required Avork done on Saturdays, it should pay for it. Holiday Pay. Mr Macdonald submitted that annual holidays should not be considered, and that the court should take cognisance of Mr Roberts’ remarks in Ibis connection. The only matter under discussion was standard rates of wages. He also claimed that the question of payment for Saturday work did not come within the scope of the present inquiry. I lis Honour said that Mr Macdonald was right when tic said that pronouncement covered only standard rates of wagesAlice u brief adjournment. Hie court i3iled that Ihe question of holidays , tin > wished. ' '' " i The hearing was adjourned-

NEW ZEALAND MONEY ABROAD The cost in New Zealand currency of the pound sterling, and of the principal overseas units, on tho latest quotations, is as follows:

London, pound .. Australia, pound . New York, dollar present Trice Tar s d s d 2 1 10.05 20 0.00 22 5.00 20 0.00 1 11.83 1 1.3 1 Paris, lranc Berlin, reichsmark Copenhagen, krone Yokohama, yen .. . 0 2.21 0 2.28 1 1.33 1 1.22 1 1.33 1 1-2 2 1 5.1 l 2 0.58