WAGE RISE CLAIM

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28573, 30 April 1958, Page 11

WAGE RISE CLAIM

Mr Walsh Sees No Grounds

<New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 29. There were no grounds at present for the Federation of Labour making a general wage claim according to the terms of the Economic Stabilisation Regulations, the president (Mr F. P. Walsh) said today in his address to the annual meeting of the federation;

The Communist Party had said that a wages cliam was vital, Mr Walsh said. From the Communists’ point of view it would be a good, thing, as it would make the federation look foolish and embarrass the Labour Government

Mr Walsh said the wage rates index had been described by the Department of Statistics as “predominantly indices of wage rates of manual workers. Such occupations as clerical and office workers, professional, technical and related workers, managers, officials and administrators and most service workers are excluded. Awards of the Court of Arbitration and orders of the wage-fixing tribunals are the basic material from which the index numbers are compiled.” Mr Walsh quoted that to answer the Communist Party’s contention that the incomes of larger wage and salary earners, including bank managers, were used to estimate how “effective” the lower incomes were in buying at the current price rates.

Prices and Wages “The sober truth about prices and wages at present is, in a nutshell, that between December, 1956, and December, 1957, prices as shown by the Price Index, rose by approximately 4|d in the £ and minimum wage rates rose by approximately 2Jd in the £,” Mr Walsh continued. “Productivity a head of population rose in the latest year available (195556) by 1.6 per cent., compared with the 5 per cent, rise of 195455, which we quoted in the wage claim of 1956.

“The executive is being urged by people both inside and outside the federation to lodge an application for a general wage increase,” he said. “None of these people has produced factual evidence to show that a claim could be successful.”