JULY 31.]

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

2315

Preference.

9. If and so long as the rules of the union shall permit any person now employed in the trade in this industrial district, and any person who may hereafter reside in this industrial district, and is a competent journeyman, or a worker entitled to an under-rate permit, to become a member of such union upon payment of an entrance fee not exceeding 5s., and of subsequent contributions, whether payable weekly or not, not exceeding 6d. per week, upon a written application of the person so desiring to join the union, without ballot or other election, then and in such case the employer shall, when engaging workmen, employ members of the union in preference to non-members, provided there are members of the union equally qualified with non-members to perform the particular work required to be done, and ready and willing to undertake it. When a non-unionist workman is engaged by an employer in consequence of the union being unable to supply a workman of equal ability willing to undertake the work, at any time within twelve weeks thereafter the union shall have the right to supply a man equally capable of performing the work, provided the workman first engaged declines to become a member of the union. This provision shall also apply to those non-union workmen already employed. This clause shall not apply to any employers who carry on business solely as builders and contractors.

10. No employer shall discriminate against members of the union, and no employer shall, in the employment or dismissal of any person or in the conduct of his business, do anything for the purpose of injuring the union, whether directly or indirectly.

11. When members of the union and non-members are employed together there shall be no distinction between members and non-members, and both shall work together in harmony and shall receive equal pay for equal work.

Under-rate Workers.

12. (a.) Any worker who considers himself incapable of earning the minimum wage fixed in paragraph 2 hereof may be paid such lower wage as may from time to time be fixed, on the application of the employee, after twenty-four hours' notice to the union, by the local Inspector of Factories, or such other person as the Court may from time to time appoint for that purpose; and such Inspector or person in fixing such wage shall have regard to the worker's capability, his past earnings, and such other circumstances as such Inspector or person may think fit to consider after hearing such argument and evidence as the union and the employer shall offer.

(b.) Whenever occasion arrives for so fixing an employee's wage it shall be so fixed for such period, not exceeding six months, as such Inspector or other person shall determine; provided that in the case of any person 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 may think fit.

(c.) Notwithstanding the foregoing, it shall be competent for an employee to agree with the president or secretary of the union upon such wage without having the same so fixed.

(d.) It shall be the duty of the union to give notice to the Inspector of Factories of every agreement made with an employee pursuant hereto.

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

Employment of Boys.

13. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to prevent the employment of boys at such wages as the employer may think fit for the purpose of stacking timber, boiling off and attending to glue, making dowels, helping to cramp, teasing flax, hair, kapok, flock, and feathers, cleaning up workshop, and general messages.

Scope of Award.

14. This award shall apply to employers carrying on business as cabinetmakers, upholsterers, chair and frame makers, wood-carvers, turners, polishers, picture-framers, and furniture packers within the Industrial District of Taranaki, but shall not apply to the manufacture of wickerwork or wire mattresses.

15. This award shall come into operation on a date to be fixed by the Court, and shall continue in force until the 7th day of December, 1914.