GROCERS' CLAIMS

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20513, 1 June 1938, Page 9

GROCERS' CLAIMS

DOMINION AWARD FIVE-DAY WEEK SOUQHT ARBITRATION COURT HEARING (By Telegrapn.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Tuesday Preparatory to making the first Dominion award covering grocers' assistants, the Second Court of Arbitration to-day commenced to hear arguments and evidence on behalf of the workers and employers. The award will apply to all the Dominion except Taranaki. Mr F. D. Cornwall was the workers’ advocate, and Mr W. E. Anderson the the employers* advocate. Mr Cornwall said the workers claimed a 40-hour week of five days, with work between 8.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m., no work on Saturdays, and one meal hour each day between noon and 2 p.m. The workers claimed the following wages:—Assistants and drivers under 10 years. £1 2s 6d to £1 7s 6d; between 10 and 17 years, £i 10s to £1 15s; 17 to 21 years, £2 2s Gd to £4 ss; 21 years and over. £5 10s; provision hand*. £0; department manager, £7; branch manager, £7 10s; first counter hand, £0; lorry-drivers, £5 15s. Three witnesses were called for the workers. Saturday Closing It was submitted by Mr Anderson that closing on Saturday mornings would allow unfair competition in grocery lines by other types of businesses that did not close on Saturday mornings. If there was no late night or Saturday morning a large amount of "Impulse buying” would be lost, never to be recovered.

The employers proposed a table of wages, which Mr Anderson said was already in wide use and which was simple to understand. It provided for a wage of 15s for boys commencing work under 15 years of age, rising to 85s in the ninth year and 95s thereafter; 17s Oil for workers starting work at ages between 15 and 16, rising to 95s in Die ninth year, and similarly up to starting ages between 20 and 21. Workers starting at 21 and over would get 50s in the first year, 85s In the second and 95s in the third and following years. They offered £5 for branch managers or workers in charge of shops. Girls in tobacco and delicatessen departments should be excluded from the award, not being grocers’ assistants. Mr Anderson had not concluded his address when the Court adjourned until 10 a.in. to-morrow.