LOW WAGE ADVOCATE

Grey River Argus, 1 March 1939, Page 3

LOW WAGE ADVOCATE

In Arbitration Court MR BISHOP AGAINST INCREASES. WELLINGTON, February 27. Submissions that are considered likely to have an important bearing on award wages were made in the court of Arbitration in Wellington to-day by Mr H. J. Bishop, advocate for the employers in the Dominion engine-drivers’ dispute. In opposing 'claims for wage increases by the workers Mr Bishop contended that the time for such increases had passed, and it was essential to put a stop to further increases in costs. The employers offered the rates fixed in the northern district award of January 5, 1938, and asked the Court to adhere strictly to these rates. “New Zealand’s overseas funds are drastically depleted, and the Government has found it necessary to take drastic measures to rehabilitate the country's finances,” said Mr Bishop. “In these circumstances I ask the Court to give a lead and adhere strictly to the rates fixed in the northern award. Only thus will industrial harmony and stability be attained. A departure from the Court’s latest opinion at present would undoubtedly lead to further claims by unions and further congestion of business before the Court.” Referring to reasons given uy the Court for increases in standard wage rates in 1937, Mr Bishop said these were that the outlook for. the future at that time was bright. Events had happened since which the Court could not be expected to have foreseen and which had altered the outlook. He submitted that were the Court to fix standard rates now they would be much lower than in 1937. Mr Bishop contended that a precedent had already been established in the recent dispute affecting the freezing Complete agreement had been reached in Conciliation Council, wages remaining th.e same as they had been in the previous award. This 'was clear recognition by the workers that there was no justification for further wage increases.