GENERAL INCREASE IN WAGES

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25307, 6 October 1947, Page 3

GENERAL INCREASE IN WAGES

“ CONSCIENTIOUS EFFORT * WANTED IN RETURN “The Press” Special WELLINGTON, October 4. “The recent pronouncement » wages by the Arbitration Court wft cost the company another £lO,OOO a year,” said the chairman of director of J. J. Niven and Company, Ltd., Bjr G. G. G. Watson, at the annual meeting of shareholders to-day. ’‘Probably only a portion of this will dsb allowed to be added to the cost of goods, so that shareholders will have to find the balance. “We 'have no objection whatever to high wages,” continued Mr Watson. “We believe that adequate wages should be paid, but on the other hand we believe that in return for big wages we are entitled to expect high efficiency and conscientious effort from wage earners. No community can maintain a healthy economy based on high wages for minimum efforts; The only hope for the future of our standard of life is based on maximum production in return for adequate financial rewards, both to wage earners and to those entitled to reward for the use of capital. Unless both these parties get fair returns for fair services, production and enterprise will languish, to the detriment of the whole community and the standard of living will be lowered.”