WAGE RESTORATION

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 203, 28 August 1934, Page 9

WAGE RESTORATION

WHERE JUSTIFIED.

"DUTY TO FOLLOW LEAD."

PRIME MINISTER'S VIEW.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

. CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. Although it is not the Government's intention to appeal to private employers to follow ite lead in restoring portion of the ■ cut made in wages, the Prime Minister, Mr. Forbes, stated to-night that he considered it the duty of every employer where an improvement of conditions was undeniable to follow that lead. 0 ■■ Mi-. Forbes added a tribute to : the integrity and fairness of New Zealand ■ employers, and said that he was confident that, without resort to any form of compulsion, they would extend the benefits to employees where improved economic conditions justified them. Speaking of the Government's action in restoring the 5 per cent cut to its employees, Mr. Forbes said it had given him great pleasure. He recalled that he had always stated publicly that, if economic conditions showed sufficient improvement, he would be the first to advocate the restoration of any cuts where justified. He also recalled that in 1922, when Mr. Maesey was Prime M'nister, a cut was made in the salaries of civil servants, and it had never been restored. He hoped that the Government's action through this year's Budget would be appreciated, and that a further improvement in the financial position would be noticed. Mr. Forbes said he did not see any need for the reintroduction of provision under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act making it compulsory for the employers to go before the Arbitration Court. His contention was that the action of private employers should be dictated by the ability of their particular branches of industry to meet added charges in the form of wages! If the added burden ' was justified by improvement in recent trade, then it was clearly the employers' duty to make the restorations. The Prime Minister said he was pleaeed to note that throughout the country in recent months many organisations of various types had made restorations when they were obviously justified.