EMPLOYERS' DUTY

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 50, 28 August 1934, Page 8

EMPLOYERS' DUTY

TO INCREASE WAGES

WHERE CONDITIONS WARRANT

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, August 27.

Although it is not the Government's intention to appeal to private employers to follow its lead in restoring a portion of the cut mado in wages, tho Primo Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) stated tonight that he considered it the duty of every employer, where an improvement of^ conditions was undeniable, to follow that lead. He added a tributo to tho integrity and fairness of New Zealand employers, and said that ho was confident that without resort to any form of compulsion they would extend tho benefits to employees where improved economic conditions justified them.

Speaking of the Government's action in increasing tho wages of its employees by 5 per cent., Mr. Forbes said that it had given him great pleasure. He recalled that ho had always stated publicly that if economic conditions showed "sufficient improvement he would be tho first to advocate tho restoration of any cuts where justified. He also recalled that in 1922, when Mr. Massey was Prime Minister, a cut was made in tho salaries of civil servants and it had never bocn restored. Ho hoped that the Government's action through this year's Budget would be appreciated and that a further improvement in the financial position would be noticed.

Mr. Forbes said he did not see any need for reintroduction of the provision making it compulsory for employers to go beforo the Arbitration Court. His contention was that the action of private employers should be dictated by the ability of their particular branches of industry to meet added charges in the form of wages. If the added burden was justified by the improvement in trade then it was clearly the employers' duty to make restorations. He was pleased to note that throughout the country in recent months many organisations of various types had mado restorations when thoy wero obviouslyjustified.