WAGES OF MILK PRODUCERS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28866, 10 April 1959, Page 13

WAGES OF MILK PRODUCERS

“Discrimination By Government”

•New Zealand Press Association/ WELLINGTON, April 9. The Government was accused of “cruel discrimination” by the secretary of the Town Milk Producers’ Federation of New Zealand (Mr V. S. Lynskey) in a supplied statement today. “The action of the Government in proposing a reduction of approximately 20 per cent, in the wages of town milk producers while denying them the right to have their case determined by reference to arbitration amounts to cruel discrimination against a hard working section of the community who carry out efficiently an essential national service in most difficult circumstances,” said Mr Lynskey. He was commenting on the reduction in the town milk producers’ price proposed by the Government, its rejection by the industry and the reluctance of the Government to agree to any form of arbitration procedure. “Since September 1, 1958, the commencement of the current milk year,” said Mr Lynskey, “103 applications involving increases in pay to large numbers of industrial works have been dealt with to date within the Conciliation and Arbitration Court procedure.

“In addition, groups of employees in the Railways, Post Office, and the Public Services have been awarded increases by their various tribunals. The Government has decided to apply to teachers, hospital board staffs, members of the armed services and other groups of employees paid from Government funds, a pay rise of 2Jd an hour for wage earners and up to £2O a year for salaried employees, retrospective to October 1, 1958. “Mr Nash, in confirming Government advice to the proposed reduction in the pay of the town milk producer, has intimated that sectional claims must be reviewed in the light of the general economy. However, in awarding waterside workers a basic wage increase of 2d an hour in February the Waterfront Industry Commission apparently made its own assessment of the state of the national economy. "The increase was granted in acknowledgement of the sufficient measure of recovery in the economic situation which justified the application being entertained. Either the Waterfront Industry Commission or Mr Nash must be wrong. “Town milk producers are not asking for any increase in pay but merely for maintenance of last year’s income,” said Mr Lynskey. “The federation is at a loss to understand why the Government denies town milk producers the democratic right available to all other sections to have their case determined by arbitration. "Mr Nash considers that the wages of town milk producers should be reduced by approximately 20 per cent, on last year's ruling rate. The federation maintains they should not. "Is Mr Nash prepared to back his judgment and prove the federation wrong by having the matter referred to an independent arbitrator for an impartial examination?” Mr Lynskey asked.