DESTRUCTIVE TO WELL-BEING

Evening Star, Issue 22989, 21 June 1938, Page 12

DESTRUCTIVE TO WELL-BEING

COMMENT ON CLOTHING TRADE AWARD POLITICAL POLICY OF VOTE-CATCHING “ The new award for the clothing trades is further evidence that the Arbitration Courts as now constituted are not courts in the proper sense oi the word, but are Government departments," said the manager of a local manufacturing concern tnjs morning in commenting on the recent clothing trades award. . . “ If no consideration is to be given to the ability of the industry to pay the increase in wages, then the agreement entered into at Ottawa is flouted. Manufacturers will be forced to appeal to the Government Tor further assistance by an increase in the present duty on imported clothing, again creating trouble between the Old Country and New Zealand contrary to the Ottawa Agreement. . . “ The wage increase given to the female employees is unreasonable, and is not based on evidence. _ “ Another point to which objection should be made is the fact that, while I understand no award can be made exceeding a term of three years, it is very disturbing to business to nave annual awards, necessitating continual re-costing of factory products. . “ Some manufacturers do not mind increases in wages so long as protection by an increase on the present duty is given. Such increases in wages and duty will only add further to the already high cost of living, which will press more heavily on the workers, and on all others, of whom there are many, living-on moderate incomes. “ Such a policy is destructive to the country’s well-being, and is not worthy of any body of men holding legislative authority. It is destructive of the goodwill existing between Britain and this country, and, further, is not based on reason, but is a -purely political policy of vote-catching. “ Any decision based on such grounds cannot give security, the continuity of which is necessary to industry, and, further, it creates a greater want of balance between various sections of the community. “In determining whether business will be good or bad, it is necessary to find out whether or not the relations that exist among groups forming the population are fair and equitable; they are not in this country, and consequently business cannot continue good under the conditions being created. The final result of such legislation can only be destructive instead of constructive.” „