THE WATERSIDERS' INCREASE IN WAGES.

Grey River Argus, 22 January 1912, Page 2

THE WATERSIDERS' INCREASE IN WAGES.

WILL THE COMPANIES PASS IT ON?

[BY TELEGIIAI'H— PEE PRESS ASSOCIATION. ]

WELLINGTON, Jan. 19. ( Under the agreement between the waterside workers and tlie shipping companies, the increase in pay will, it is said, amount to between £100,000 and £150,000 per annum. The general impression is that the companies affected will pass it on to the public, with perhaps a littlo bit added. The general manager of the Union Steam Ship Company (Mr Tloldsworth) has not yet gone into figures, but he . thinks the Union's share of the increased payments will be about one-half of tlw total. .'The .'Home companies cannot, of course,' ■ increase their freights on dairy produce, or frozen, meat at. once, because they arc working under . contracts that' have still some time to run. Mr Semple said the unions Avill honorably abide by the agreement. The delegates got what they could not get from Ihrv Arbitration Court" and are highly satisfied. Tlkj success of the delegates in (his case will no doubt mean a considerable accession to the ranks of the Federation, and a corresponding blow at the Arbitration . Court. On-s. employer, scon on the subject tin's afternoon, was inclined tn take rather, a gloomy view of the sil nation. • "It is all very well," he said, 'to go on giving increases and to keep passing them 011 to the public, but where is it all going to end? There must come a point at which the public cannot afford to go on paying, and when the demands of the unions must be refused. This- continual giving way is only putting off the evil day of a general strike, which must come sooner or later."