ON THE WRONG TRACK.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 108, 10 May 1927, Page 10

ON THE WRONG TRACK.

NEW ZEALAND WAGES

SYSTEM.

BOUND-TABLE CONFERENCE.

HON. MR. STEWART'S PROPOSAL.

(Special to "Star.")

FEILDING, Monday

"I would like to have spoken on the general question of . our Customs tariff, knowing how apprehensive the farmers are as to the effect of any revision," said the Hon. W. Downie Stewart in his address to-night. "In my mind, vastly more important than any question of tariff revision is the need for a complete inquiry into our whole wages system, the Arbitration Court and the relation of wage fixation to production.

"There appear to be two schools of thought developing on this question, one in Australia and New Zealand, and another in America and in England. It is quite possible that we have got on to the wrong track, and that we might pay higher wages and yet get a bigger product under another system. It is too big a question for me to discuss at present, but, speaking for myself, I believe ae a first step towards a review of our national policy on this question it would be well worth while to call a conference at which representatives of the farmers, the manufacturers and the trade unions would be present; in fact, a sort of industrial parliament, where different sections of the community could freely and frankly exchange their views on this important question. Ido not believe that such a discission would lead to any immediate result, but it would open up the whole question and an exchange of ideas would pave the way to a further consideration of the matter."