RESTORING WAGES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 225, 19 June 1936, Page 10

RESTORING WAGES

Prime Minister’s Statement

OPERATIVE FROM JULY 1

“It is difficult to understand why anyone should have had any misconception or doubt as to the intentions of the Government to restore the cuts in wages and salaries as from July 1,” said the Prime Minister, Rt. Hou. M. J. Savage, when asked last evening to comment on the suggestion made oy Mr. A. E. Mander, secretary of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation, that many employers did not realise the imminence of the restoration. "Special pains were taken to make the position clear,’’ Mr. Savage sail. "There was no humbug about the statement that was made recently in Parliament, through the press ami over the air, that wages and salaries would be restored to Mie 1931 level as from Juiy 1. We made it clear, on that occasion, that legislation would be introduced in the second part of the session to make provision for a full restoration of the cuts in wages and salaries. It had been Mie intention of the Goveriimetn to bring down the necessary legislation much earlier, but there was not time for that in view of the many difficulties involved. “There was a specific purpose in announcing as we did to Parliament and the people the intention of Mie Government to have wages fully restored as from July 1. We wanted to make sure that no employer would be taken unawares and that ample time would be given to all employer? to make provision for the payment of increased wages and salaries as from July .1. It does not matter whether the restoration will be made by employers on that date or later, but let it be clearly understood thati if payment does not begin on July IMt will he made retrospective when the legislation is put through Parliament as early as possible in the second part of the session.”