INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 July 1936, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS

WAGE CUTS RESTORATION [per press ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. July 2. The Government is considering plans to restore the 1931 wage level to those employees who are not at present under the I.C. and A. Act, or under any other industrial legislation. Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage said to-day that he had had reported to him some isolated instances of victimisation on (he part of the employers, and in every case an investigation had been ordered. “We are not going to run away. If people are being victimised, we will take action against those responsible." Mr. Savage drew attention to the discrepancy that existed as between certain businesses of the same class. There was a case where the one class of business was operating under an award or under other legislation, and was paying the higher rates, and said he saw no reason why the man who was not working under the legislation should not make the same restorations that the other man had to make. it. was proposed to cover them. He said: “We will put the onus on them of showing that the wages paid by them are as high as they were in 1931. The previous Government made its appeal to employers to reduce wages, and they did not need any pressing; but we realise that employers, being human, are not likely to go so easily in the opposite direction. Our purpose is to see that the 1931 rates are restored, and the instructions to-day to those drafting the legislation will be to take in the- whole lot as tar as that is humanly possible." The Prime Minister said that there were difficulties to be faced. The Government was prepared to assist industry by protective tariffs and otheiwise, but, at the same time, it wanted to see that all of those who worked in industry shared in the benefit, which could only be expressed by shorter hours and increased pay.

40 HOUR WEEK

WELLINGTON July 2

The likelihood of a move by the employers, in view of the Arbitration Court’s decision fixing the 40-hour week for • the footwear industry, to withdraw their applications for the extension of working hours beyond the forty-hour week, was mentioned to Mr. T. O. Bishop (secretary of the New Zealand Employers’ Federation) to-day. Mr. Bishop said that the effect oi the Court’s judgment on the other branches of industry had not yet been fully considered, as many employers were still busy preparing cases to place before the Court. The judgment dealt only with the footwear manufacturing industry, and, in his opinion, it could affect only such other industries as were on all fours with it. “One principle has been established, however,” Mr. Bishop said, “and that is the cost factor is paramount in the minds of the Court.” ” EMPLOYEES DISMISSED. AUCKLAND, July 3. , The action of a city carrying firm in i dismissing a. number of employees allegedly because of inability to pay the 1931 standard of wages, is claimed by the Auckland Drivers’ Union to be a lockout. The contention is based onSection 122 of the I. G. and A. Act, 1925. In a letter to Mr. Armstrong, the Union alleges that the firm concerned called the drivers together, and told them that if they would not enter an agreement to sign a document to work for less than the ruling rates of pay, the firm would dispense with their services. The men, it is added, declined to sign or agree to any such arrangement, and consequently were discharged.