EMPLOYERS COMPLAIN

Grey River Argus, 9 August 1937, Page 5

EMPLOYERS COMPLAIN

“PREVENTED” FROM RAISING WAGES? HAWERA, August 7. The contention that the Shops and Offices Act, by providing a minimum of 15s a week, with half-yearly increases of 4s for office juniors and message boys, was opposed to the best interest of employees, was made by the I-lawera Chamber of Commerce. It was decided to circularise a resolution of protest to all Chambers of Commerce and manufacturers’ associations, and to forward it as a remit to the annual conference of the Associated Chambers. It was pointed out that one ill effect of the law was that the employer was held back from paying above the minimum by reason of the fact that the half-yearly increase had 1o be added to the actual wage paid. As a result, many juniors had to wait for the expiry of six or twelve months before receiving the extra remuneration. Another ill effect was that when it became uneconomic to employ a message boy, there was no alternative but to dismiss him. As future employers had to take into account a boy’s previous experience, it was contended that the Dominion was soon going to be faced with another “unwanted youth” problem.