NO INCREASE IN MARGINS

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30769, 5 June 1965, Page 1

NO INCREASE IN MARGINS

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, June 4. The Railways Industrial Tribunal has disallowed an application by the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants for increased margins. The society sought an increase in margins between the labourers’ rate of pay and the tradesmen’s rate and an increase between the labourers’ rate and the skilled labourers’ rate.

The tribunal’s decision was issued today. The majority of the tribunal, Judge Blair and Mr G. W. Brown, said the applications were test cases and it was obvious that if the adjustment sought were granted a major overhaul of wage rates and margins would be necessary. A further consequence would be an increase in wage rates of all railwaymen affected. Under the legislation, the tribunal could not ignore the application and operation of the ruling rates survey and.

by and large, it had to use the survey as a yardstick. It had not been shown that marginal increase could be made without violating the restrictions imposed by legislation. The tribunal was sympathetic to the idea of increasing the margin for skill but, to be effective rates must truly reflect current trends and opinion.

Mr T. F. Gebbie, who dissented, said the majority placed undue emphasis on the ruling rates survey which was not intended to be more than a guide to general rates prevailing in outside industry.