LOCAL BODY WORKERS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21212, 7 September 1940, Page 10

LOCAL BODY WORKERS

15 PER CENT RISE SOUGHT LIME INDUSTRY APPLICATION (By Telegraph.—Special to Times) AUCKLAND, Friday Employers affected by the New Zealand lime-workers’ award and the New Zealand local bodies (rural) labourers’ award applied to the Court of Arbitration today for exemption from the general order increasing wages by 5 per cent. Mr H. J. Bishop appeared in support of both applications, and Mr P. M. Butler to oppose them on behalf of the unions. The employers’ application for exemption on behalf of the New Zealand County Councils’ Union of Employers was countered by the labourers with an application for a 15 per cent increase. Mr Butler said the employers’ application was more political than industrial. The Court’s Id an hour increase in wages gave the highest paid weekly worker £4 13s 4d gross weekly. The effective wages of the workers under the award, allowing for the 5 per cent increase, were £4 18s for permanent workers and £4 16s 2id for casual workers.

I “The primary producers in New | Zealand are the greatest dole drawers in the world,” said Mr ! Butler, “and now they want to i speak a few miserable pence from i these day workers. We trust the I Court will treat the application with ! the contempt which it deserves.” ! Mr Butler submitted figures for a 1 household budget showing, he said, j that it was impossible to live de--1 cently and maintain a reasonable standard of comfort on less than £5 | 10s a week. j Mr Bishop said the workers’ application was for a new order, which could not be dealt with by the Court f until January next. It was without ; merit. Lime Workers’ Wages In respect of the lime workers’ award, Mr Bishop quoted figures to

■ = 1 show increases recently gained by lime workers. Mr Butler said the worker was ! entitled to the benefit of the 5 per j cent increase to meet the additional 1 tax of Is in the pound. The farm- j ing community was already receiv- . ing a very definite assistance from j the community in connection with j the consumption of lime. i The Court reserved its decisions.