GENERAL WAGE ORDERS

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28250, 11 April 1957, Page 10

GENERAL WAGE ORDERS

Mr Walsh Urg es Retention

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 10. Widespread industrial unrest, with loss of production on a national scale, would inevitably result if the present system of general wage orders through the Arbitration Court were abolished, said the president of the Federation of Labour (Mr F. P. Waish) today. 1 “The workers could not be expected to submit tamely to the fall in their living standards, which would result from such a retrograde step,” he said. Mr Walsh, who returned last Friday from Australia, was replying to a statement by the past president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce (Mr D. Pool). “As everybody knows, the need for general wage increases is brought about by price increases,” said Mr Walsh.

No evidence had been offered to support the Chambers of Commerce view that the general wage order system had increased costs. All the evidence was against it, said Mr Walsh. “The last general increase of 4.4 per cent, in minimum wage rates followed an increase of 7.7 per cent, in prices,” said Mr Walsh.

The suggestion that unions apply individually for cost-of-living increases, if followed, would only delay wage increases, he said. “It would not stop prices going up, because the claim for a wage increase could not be made until prices had already risen,” he said. Workers would be penalised by delays as the Court worked Its way through masses of applications.

Instead of attempting to place the whole blame on wage earners, who asked only that their living standards be maintained, Mr Pool should investigate other costs and profits, said Mr Walsh.