LOW WAGE POLICY

Grey River Argus, 2 April 1932, Page 5

LOW WAGE POLICY

BIG CONFERENCE Of N.Z. Workers ONE BIG ORGANISATION SUGGESTED. WELLINGTON, April 1. A combined conference of the representatives of -workers’ organisations representing a membership of ninety thousand opened here yesterday, and was continued to-day. Both the Public Service organisation and the workers’ organisations generally are represented, there being one hundred and ten delegates, from one hundred and forty organisations. The delegates included representatives of the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association, A.S.R.S. Railway Tradesmen’s Association and Engine Drivers’, Firemen and Cleaners’ Association. Altogether 16.850 public servants were represented.

I A suggestion has been made that the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association had decided to affiliate with the Alliance of Labour, but the secretary of the Association (Air MaeKenzie) stated that no such action had yet been taken. It is understood that the Conference will discuss the setting up of one big organisation. To-day up till the luncheon adjournment the conference discussed the recent legislation with reference to the Arbitration Court and the wage cuts, also the unemployment taxation. The matters were still under discussion when the Conference adjourned for lunch. WELLINGTON, April 1. After sitting this morning and afternoon, the Combined Conference of the Industrial and Public Service Organisations, which is meeting in Wellington to decide what action .shall bo taken to combat the wage reductions end other measures affecting the workers, has adjourned until Monday. Committees have boon appointed to deal with various questions contained in the order paper. These committees will sit over the week-end, and will present their reports and recommendations to the Conference when it resumes on Monday.