INCREASED WAGES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 15, 19 January 1931, Page 9

INCREASED WAGES.

ELECTRICAL LINESMEN.

STRONG PROTEST MADE.

POWER BOARD'S ACTION.

An emphatic protest against the recent increases in wages granted "by the Arbitration Court to electrical linesmen and their assistants was received at this morning's meeting of the Waitemata Electric Power Board.

The action taken was dictated by the .Auckland Provincial Employers' Association, -which wrote as follows:—

"It is very disappointing to note that the Court has seen fit to award increases in wages to linesmen and their assistants against the weight of evidence. We have no doubt that the boards and other employers bound by the award will enter an emphatic protest through the Press and members of Parliament against the Court's action at a time like the,present, when the whole Dominion is eufrering under a serious depression, and wages and salaries not covered by Arbitration Court awards are, in many cases, either being reduced or arc under review. It was clearly shown in Court that any increase of wages must of necessity result in a lessening of the number of hands employed. The memorandum to the award and employers' assessor's dissent,, should be carefully noted, as they, show very clearly]that .'in making the award the Court" merely followed the precedent it had created'in the South in 1929, without taking into consideration the fact that economic conditions have seriously changed in the meantime."

"I do not see that the.board- can do anything, as we are only one of. 49 other bodies affected," said the chairman, Mr. G. Ticvithick, when',. the question came forward for discussion. "The assessors met, and the a ward, has been delivered. The board" is entitled to go I'arther in the matter, but, personally, I think it would be of very little use."

Mr. J. Mackie .said it would be quite wrong to accept the amended award. He moved that a protest be made.

Mr. O. W. Marks: I am satisfied that the Court was satisfied that the men were not getting a living wage.

Mr. Trevithiek urged the board not to discuss -the causes' of depression, but to adhere to the spirit of the letter.

Mr. Darlow considered that the Court, having heard ■ the evidence, was more competent to judge the positioii than the board.

After further discussion the motion was carried. The protest is to be forwarded to the proper quarter through the Employers' Association.