HARBOUR DUES

Grey River Argus, 30 January 1946, Page 4

HARBOUR DUES

DUNEDIN INCREASE TO COVER WAGES RISE P.A. DUNEDIN, Jan. 27 In order to meet additional costs arising from increases in wages granted to employees., the Otago, Harbour Board has received the permission of the Price Tribunal to raise its present surcharge of five per cent., on dues, and, charges to 10 per cent. “Following the general pronouncement of the Court of Arbitration in March last that the standard minimum rates for adult male workers should be increased by 31d per hour,” said the secretary to the Board, Mr. J. Renton, in a statement “the rates of wages payable under the New Zealand Harbour Board’s Employees’ award were subsequently increased by the Court from April 1, 1945, by amounts varying from 7s Get per week in the case of junior workers to 12s lOd per week for adult male workers working over 40 hours. The cost to the Otago, Harbour Board was very substantial, and in conjunction with additional cost of goods and services owing to similar increases in all industries, represented a total annual increase in its expenditure of over £5,600.” “Tiie Board’ after carefully examining the position was reluctantly forced to the conclusion that it had no alternative but to pass on to users the increased surcharge. After waiting many months for the decision, which was presumably delayed pending a final decision on the Wellington Harbour Board’s application for approval of an increase of 30 percent., the Board’s proposals have now received the approval of the Price Tribunal.” Mr. Renton added: “The increase is to become operative on February 1, increasing the present surcharge to 10 per cent.”