“CASE OF SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST”

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 302, 17 September 1936, Page 9

“CASE OF SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST”

Fruit-growing Industry ASSISTANCE FROM STATE WANTED Bv Telegraph—Press Association. Hastings, September 16. The opinion that the fruit-growing industry would be in a bad way and its position hopeless unless the Government came to the growers’ assistance was expressed by Mr. C. H. Slater, agent for the employers, at a sitting of the Conciliation Council hearing the industrial dispute concerning storemen and fruit packers. “It is going to be ■a case of the survival of the fittest on the prices that now appear in view,” said Mr. Slater. “But you have said that last year was a good year,” said the commissioner, Mr. M. J. Reardon. “For some growers it was,” replied Mr. Slater, “but over the average it was not. One good year in four is not sufficient. There are men who are just lingering on their places and receiving advances from merchants. “Any additional burden goes back to the producer, and he cannot possibly stand any more burden at present. If we get assistance from the Government, then It might be a different matter. Because we are opposing an increase in wages and disputing the 40Lour week, I don’t want you to assume that we are opposed to the Government,” continued Mr. Slater. “We are not opposed to the Government, and wish to do all we can to bring about fulfilment of their wishes, but it is not always possible.” The scale of pay for youths agreed on was as follows: 16 years’ and under, 18/- a week; 164 years, 22/-; 17 years, 26/-; 174 vears, 30/-; 18 years, £2; 18} years, £2/10/-; 19 years, £3; thereafter, adult rates. Ut was agreed that the proportion of youths should not be more than one to every three adults or fraction of three. “Well, what about overtime then?” asked the commissioner after a futile attempt to settle adult wages. Mr. Slater: We are not going to pay overtime at all. We’ve agreed, to disagree on the question of wages and hours, and the overtime is linked up with them. The commissioner: I don’t see how you are going to get out of paying overtime. The court has no power to give you exemptiou. “Well, we’ll go to a higher tribunal, •aid Mr. Slater. Mr. Miller (for the union) : You mean go to Parliament? Mr. Slater: Yes, we will go to it It has no intention of strangling industry, and will be reasonable. “I will be very surprised if it will agree to let you employ anybody for unlimited hours,” said the commissioner. * “It is only for altout two months or the year we'want to,” said Mr. Slater “You can average it put over the whole year at 40 hours if you like.” The commissioner then drew attention to Sunday work, but here again Mr. Slater said the industry hoped to obtain exemption because of perishable goods. He mentioned that the Railway Department co-operated with the industry in having Sunday fruit trains.