Labourers Call For Wage Commission

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31832, 9 November 1968, Page 1

Labourers Call For Wage Commission

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, November 8.

The Labourers’ Federation is to ask the Government to make the Royal Commission on Parliamentary Salaries available as a wage-fixing authority for all wage and salaried workers.

A recommendation to this effect was passed at the second day of the federation’s annual conference in Auckland today. The text of the recommendation was:—

“This conference congratulates those members of Parliament who adopted, accepted, and applied to themselves increases in salaries and allowances recommended by the Royal Commission. “In view of the fact that the Royal Commission is a modern and obviously accept-

able wage-fixing authority, and that the I.C. and A. Act and its procedure was not used in relation to Parliamentary salaries, this is conclusive proof that the act is outmoded.

“We therefore request the Government to make the Royal Commission available as a wage-fixing authority for all wage and salaried workers, as among the reasons given in Parliament for the acceptance of the recommendations were the family responsibilities of elected members. We confidently request Parliament to make a necessary increase to the family benefit allowance, especially for families existing on sub-stan-dard wages.” A motion was passed that the federation undertake a survey and investigation to ascertain the wage rate necessary to provide a reasonable standard of living for a man, wife, and two children.