WAGES ORDER

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21205, 30 August 1940, Page 9

WAGES ORDER

CLAIMS FOR EXEMPTION TWO APPLICATIONS HEARD COURT RESERVES DECISION (By Telegraph.—press Association) WELLINGTON, Thursday An application for complete exemption from the general order increasing award wages by 5 per cent was made to the Court of Arbitration today by the New Zealand Motor and Horse Drivers’ Union of Employers. The application was based on the grounds that the employers were precluded from passing on any portion of the increase in overhead caused by the order. It was also contended that for the workers employed on a 44-hour week an award had granted an increase in wages of 5 per cent less than three months ago, and there had been no increase in the cost of living or arfy other circumstances in that period to justify the granting of any further increase.

A similar application was made by the New Zealand taxi drivers employers’ organisation. The grounds were that an award was made less than three months ago and there was no justification for increasing the wages then fixed by the Court, because the wages were fair taking into account the wages then being paid, the nature of the work, the amount of idle time and the effect of unregulated competition. Any increase in wages would seriously prejudice the future of the industry. It was contended that the financial position of the industry made it impossible to carry any further increases in overhead without increases in price, which were not practicable. Both applications were opposed by the workers’ organisations and decision was reserved in both cases. RISE WITHHELD ACTION BY SOME EMPLOYERS QUESTION PUT TO COURT (By Telegrapfi.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Thursday The Court of Arbitration was asked today by Mr P. M. Butler, secretary of the New Zealand Labourers and Related Trades’ Union of Workers to decide the legality or otherwise of the action of some employers in withholding, pending the hearing of applications for exemption, the 5 per cent increase in wages made by the order of the Court which came into force on August 9. Decision was reserved. Mr Butler contended that no action on the part of the employers should prevent the workers receiving the benefit of the increase. He pointed out that in 1931 reductions in wages had been made and in no case had reductions been withheld pending appeals. The order of the Court, he contended, had been arbitrary. Mr H. J. Bishop, on behalf of the employers, said the employers who had withheld payment had done so on his advice. If the employer were to pay the increase and later on be successful in an appeal for exemption he would have no means of recovering the extra amount he had paid out. If he failed in his appeal he could make retrospective payment.

Mr Butler said the arguments of both the employers and the workers had been heard before the Court made the general order on August 9. The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act provided that there could be no appeal from an award. Mr Bishop said the award was not made under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, but under the Emergency War Regulations.

PROTEST ENDORSED WEST COAST RAILWAYMEN (By Telegrapn.—Press Association) WESTPORT, Thursday At a combined meeting of railwaymen held in Westport this evening, it was unanimously resolved: “That this combined meeting fully supports the resolutions passed by the Otahuhu and Wellington branches of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, and the Engine-drivers, Firemen and Cleaners’ Association branch at Auckland, with regard to recent resolutions on the cost of living and the Government’s policy.” CLAIM BY MINERS STOP-WORK MEETING HELD (By Telegraph.—Special to Times) GREYMOUTH, Thursday Following a stop-work meeting whch was held by the miners on arrival at work this morning, the Dobson mine was idle today. A special meeting of the union was held at Wallsend this afternoon and work will be resumed tomorrow. In a statement this evening, Mr W. Purdy, president of the Grey Valley Workers’ Union, said that the mine was stopped on the question as to whether the 5 per cent wages increase granted by the Arbitration Court applied to other unions. “ We are of the opinion that we are entitled to the 5 per cent increase as well as anybody else,” said Mr Purdy, | “ and consider that it should be added |to the 5 per cent that has already | been granted to the miners.”