Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY, August 1, 1934. SEAMEN’S WAGES CUTS.

Grey River Argus, 1 August 1934, Page 4

Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY, August 1, 1934. SEAMEN’S WAGES CUTS.

While they keep their own counsel, the seamen in seeking to maintain their conditions and restore wages cuts, are able to rely on the sympathy of wage earners generally. It cannot be said that they have chosen to precipitate a general transport deadlock. The employers, while they do not come meantime into the picture very prominently, are the chief actors behind the scenes. They arc evidently disposed to refuse the restoration of wages, and would possibly endeavour to make any reduction of the cuts operating contingent upon some change of working conditions which would leave the seamen permanently worse off for the wages reduction. The cuts wen imposed, and accepted, as a tern ponary .expedient. The seamen must realise that the attitude of most employers—and those among the wealthiest-—is to establish the cut rates as a standard for the future. The Government is busy from time to time with expedients to restore the incomes of al l classes except the wage earners The latest step is the further re duction of interest rates, at which nobody can cavil, but there should be a parallel step in the form of the revocation of the cuts, with out making it contingent upon any worsening of the hours or conditions of working. It is rather significant that a com paratively small shipping concern should have already met its employees fairly with a restoration of the old agreement rates of pay and terms generally. The principal employer is in a very favoured position in the Dominion trade, and ought to give that fact practical expression by following the example aforementioned. The fact, for instance, that there is a large number of unemployed ought not to he regarded as a justification for keeping down the wages of those who are in employment. From day

to day there is an increase in the mass of people who realise the bad effects which deliberate and unjustified wage cutting has had on the whole national economy. On the other hand, our market is reserved, for instance, for the wheat farmers, whereas Iheir commodity is obtainable from oversea at half the price they are receiving, and the flour millers are' also protected so that their returns shall be kept up. It is only fair that the workers should be also considered, but with so many workless, there is scarcely any industry in which those engaged are in a position to make a stand for the same treatment as the ruling economic interests are able to dictate for themselves. The seamen are endeavouring only to regain what was taken from them, and in New Zealand waters the posit ion of their industry is such as amply to justify their action. Shipowners are adepts in combining to keep up their revenues, and should therefore recognise that their employees have a right to maintain their standard of pay and conditions. Nobody, indeed, wishes to see a general stoppage of coastal transport, and the desire to make cut rates into standard rates is not to be regarded as any warranty for such a thing. It is therefore to be sincerely hoped that wise counsels 'will prevail, and that the employers will recognise their obligation to meet their men. if not generously, at least reasonably in this important matter.