WAGE RISE CLAIM

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20634, 9 December 1941, Page 8

WAGE RISE CLAIM

WORKERS CONTENTION FIGURES NOT DISPROVED (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Replying in the Arbitration Court to the case presented on behalf of the employers in opposing the workers’ application for an increase in wages to meet the increased cost of living, Mr. R. McLagan submitted that it had been proved that the 7.8 per cent increase sought was a conservative estimate of the rise in the cost, and that i\ i)ad been also shown that the general economic and financial position of New Zealand was good. He said that Mr. Mountjoy had not succeeded in shaking the workers’ statement of security given to • the farmers by the agreement with the British Government regarding prices and the quantities of export meat products, nor had he mentioned the additional security given to the farmers by the New Zealand Government’s guarantee in regard to excess quantities. Referring to Professor Tocker’s evidence, he said that Professor Tocker had admitted that his figures of an alleged improvement in the effective wage rates were absurd, and throughout the whole cross-examina-tion had displayed marked readiness to abandon his own incorrect figures and to accept the workers’. It had been urged that the workers should agree to a general extension of working hours, but on the other hand the National Party, which was the political representative of the employers, admitted that such a general extension was unnecessary. Where necessary in important industries the extension was being done by the industrial emergency council. The employers had admitted that retail prices had increased and that price increases made wage increases inevitable. Decision was reserved.