INCREASED WAGES SOUGHT

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25607, 23 September 1948, Page 4

INCREASED WAGES SOUGHT

Move By Federation

Of Labour

“GREATER SHARE OF DIVIDEND’’ (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 22. A new general order increasing wages is to be sought by the New Zealand Federation of Labour. The national council of the federation decided to-day to instruct its executive to carry out this policy, already laid down by the council in resolutions adopted last February. To enable a case to be stated to the Court of Arbitration for a general increase, the federation will approach the Government, seeking a further amendment of the Economic Stabilisation Regulations. The federation’s proposed amendment would give the right for a case to be stated for wage-earners as a class to receive a greater share of the ‘*Wational dividend.” The Court’s interpretation of the regulations has been that its power is to preserve relationships between- different sections of workers rather than'between, workers and other sections of the community. The secretary of-the federation (Mr K. McL. Baxter) explained that the federation’s proposal was for an alteration to amendment No. 6 of the regulations. 1945 Amendment The amendment, gazetted in June, 1945, ruled that in making a general order on wages the Court must take into account; (a) the economic and financial conditions affecting trade and industry in New Zealand; (b) any rise or fall in the cost of living, as indicated by the War-time Prices Index since December 15, 1942; (c) any increase or reduction in rates of remuneration since December 15, 1942; (d) all other considerations that the Court deems relevant. The proposal of the federation was to replace clauses b and c with a single clause which would establish the right for the federation to make application to the Court for a general increase to wageearners based on the economic and the financial condition of the country as a whole and related to the income of all other sections of the community.