WAGES INCREASE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 191, 13 August 1940, Page 11

WAGES INCREASE.

VIGOROUS PROTEST. HOSPITAL BOARD COSTS. Strong protest at the 5 per cent increase in award wages was made by the chairman, Mr. Allan J. Moody, at a meeting ai the Auckland Hospital Board last evening. He said it would mean an extra annual cost of £7000 to the (board, and the burden on the ratepayers would be higher than ever. The increase was totally unjustified, and it meant pacing on the war contribution of 1/ in the £ to the employers. Dr. J. P. Hastings said that wages always lagged behind the cost of living, which had increased very much of late. The money would be all spent. Farmers' Position. Mr. G. T. Parvin said that the farmers would not get any more for their butter, and they could not pass it on. Young people were now getting wages undreamed of in other days, and every year the country was getting closer to bankruptcy. If the Government wanted to help Britain it should tell every man to take off his coat and do his bit. Mr. J. V. Mucky said that one section of the community had been penalised for a privileged few, and it was class distinction of the highest order. The Government was absolutely insincere, and every right-thinking person should protest. Mr. E. H. Potter pointed out that a certain number of the board's employees would get the increase, but the nurses would not, and that was most unfair. Mr. Moody said that if the Government "put a gun at their heads" they would have to pay, but they had sufficient intelligence to protest ngninst a gross wrong to the community. Mr. W. K. Ho wit t said that the announcement was a bombshell. The discussion closed without a motion being presented.