Company director defies wage freeze

Press, 14 May 1984, Page 8

Company director defies wage freeze

PA Auckland An Auckland company director who employs three workers has openly defied the wage freeze regulations by giving them a pay rise of $l3 to $lB a week. The director, Mr John McArthur, who owns a Kingsland clock-making plant under the name John McArthur, Ltd, said yesterday that he had done so because he believed the regulations were “bad law.”

“In conscience I could not obey such law.

“I have taken this stand to protect the rights of those working for me and to establish my right to pay those workers to whatever level I consider fair and equitable.” Mr McArthur said he had written to the Minister of Labour, Mr Bolger, giving the reasons for his decision.

Since then officials of the Department of Labour in

Auckland had investigated the company’s pay records and had told Mr McArthur he appeared to have breached the regulations.

He had been given until Wednesday to revert to his previous pay rates or face Kible prosecution and liay for a fine of $5OOO plus an additional $lOO for every day that the offence continued.

Mr McArthur said he would not change his mind.