(d.) “Pipe-laying” shall mean the laying of pipes for sewerage purposes or for water-mains only.

Tools and Accessories.

5. All tools shall be provided by the employers, but each employee shall sign for any tool or tools served out to him, and shall return the same when required to do so or pay for them.

6. Hydrant-men to be supplied with boots and hand-protectors, street-washers with boots and oilskins, and drainers in wet places with skin-backs.

Under-rate Workers.

7. (a.) Any worker who for any reason is considered incapable of earning the minimum wage may be paid such lower wage as may be from time to time fixed, on the application of the worker, after due notice to the union, by the local Inspector of Awards or such other person as the Court may from time to time appoint for that purpose; and such Inspector or other person in so fixing such wage shall have regard to the worker’s capability, his past earnings, and such other circumstances as such Inspector or other person may think fit to consider, after hearing such evidence and argument as the union and such worker shall offer.

(b.) Such permit shall be for such period not exceeding six months as such Inspector or other person shall determine, and after the expiration of such period shall continue in force until fourteen days’ notice shall have been given to such worker and his employer by the secretary of the union, requiring him to have his wage again fixed in manner prescribed by this clause: Provided that in the case of any worker whose wage is so fixed by reason of old age or permanent disability, it may be fixed for such longer period as such Inspector or other person shall think fit.

(c.) Notwithstanding the foregoing, it shall be competent for a worker to agree with the president or secretary of the union upon such wage without having the same so fixed. It shall be the duty of the union to give notice to the Inspector of Awards of every agreement made with a worker pursuant hereto.

(d.) It shall be the duty of an employer before employing a worker at such lower wage to examine the permit or agreement by which such wage is fixed.

Payment of Wages.

8. Wages shall be paid weekly or fortnightly as may be mutually agreed upon.

Preference.

9. (a.) The employers shall recognize the Auckland and Suburban Local Bodies’ Labourers’ Industrial Union of Workers, registered under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and the said union covenants that it will not during the continuance of this award take any steps to make any application for the purpose of cancelling its registration thereunder.

(b.) In the event of any employer bound by this award hereinafter engaging any worker who is not a member of the union, and who within one calendar month after his engagement does not become and remain a member of the union, the employer shall dismiss such worker from his service if required to do so by the union, provided there is then a member of the union equally qualified to perform the particular work required to be done, and ready and willing to undertake the same.

(c.) Further, any employer shall, when requested by the union to do so, take into consideration the advisability of dismissing any worker now employed by him if, after fourteen days from the service upon such worker by the union of a notice requiring him to join the union, such worker refuses or neglects to become and remain a member of the Auckland and Suburban Local Bodies’ Labourers’ Industrial Union of Workers.

(d.) The provisions of the foregoing clause shall operate only if and so long as the rules of the union permit any person of good character and sober habits to become a member of the union upon payment of an entrance fee not exceeding 5s., upon a written or verbal application without ballot or other election, and to continue a member