UNIONS OBJECT

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 September 1946, Page 6

UNIONS OBJECT

INCREASED PAYMENTS GOVERNOR-GENERAL AND JUDICIARY GOVERNMENT CRITICISED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 20. Unions in Wellington have voiced objection to the increases in the allowances to the Gov-ernor-General and the salaries to Judges on the grounds that claims for increases for the workers have

been queried in the Arbitration Court on the grounds of stabilisation. The objections are expected.to be supported by the watersiders at stopwork meetings

through the Dominion. The Lower Hutt section of the Wellington Labourers’ Union took the first step and were later joined in a request to the Federation of Labour to have the stabilisation position clarified by the Wellington Waterfront Central Committee, which includes delegates of the Foremen and Stevedores’ Union, the Harbour Board Employees’ Union, the Carpenters’ Union and the tally clerks, shipwrights and drivers.

Watersiders’ Support.

This morning a special meeting of the Watersiders’ Union supported the protest made to the Federation of Labour by the watersiders’ secretary, Mr. T. Hill.

Mr. E. A. Napier, secretary of the Wellington watersiders, said the action by the national officers was unanimously endorsed in a resolution which pointed out that the increase in pay to the Judiciary was approximately equivalent to the total annual wage of the average worker and that the worker would have to foot the bill through increased taxation. “It is the expressed opinion of the waterside workers,” Mr. Napier said, “and they believe the opinion of all wage earners, that stabilisation is applicable only to those who come in the strata of the worker. The decision of the Govt, in this matter has caused dissatisfaction among members of the union and other workers.” M.P’s. Own Salaries. Mr. Napier also recalled the action of members of Parliament in substantially increasing their own salaries and granting themselves an expense allowance. “Without questioning the right to an increase for the Governor-General and the Judiciary, it is apparent that the economic conditions of these gentlemen are much, more favourable than that of the average wage-earner and I trust that the Federation of Labour, as the national body representing the workers, will voice disapproval in no uncertain manner and demand compensatory increases for the wage earners of this country.”