WAGE INCREASES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 161, 9 July 1940, Page 4

WAGE INCREASES.

DOMINION TREND.

EMPLOYERS , SACRIFICES.

COMMENT BT MR. MOtTNTJOT.

(By* Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. In replying to criticism Mr. W. J. Mountjoy, secretary of the Wellington Employers' Association, states that when he made comments on several recent awards of the Arbitration Court, he di J not attack the Labour unions concerned, but expressed anxiety at the continued policy of the Court in increasing wages and shortening hours. He also made some comment on the serious effect of such increases, with particular reference to the difficult future which confronts people in the Dominion who are dependent on fixed incomes, and particularly the effect of such increases on employers, whose output has been reduced because of the war and import restrictions. Further, he referred to the danger of ever-increasing costs. Mr. Mountjoy reviewed a number of recent awards and went on to say th«t the question had been asked, while all were expected to make sacrifices to win the war, who would really make the sacrifice in view of wages increases for workers. Tn such cases as he had reviewed, the answer was the employer, who was required to meet his own taxation expenses, and provide his employees with extra wages and, in some cases, shorter hours.