WAGES IN OIL STORES

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 28 June 1935, Page 5

WAGES IN OIL STORES

WORKERS SEEK INCREASE. CONCILIATION PROCEEDINGS,. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 27. Oil store workers are seeking an improvement in wages and conditions before the Conciliation Council, which met to-day, the parties being the New Zealand Federated Storemen and Packers and Warehouse Employees’ Industrial Association and the Shell Company of New Zealand and others. Mr Miller, the agent for the applicants, said it was true the trade had slumped because of heavy taxation, but the selling price had. risen 2d a gallon, which on the increase of importation from 54,464,563 gallons to 17,604,725 gallons for the year ended March 31 last meant an increase of £50,C00. Mr Mountjov, for the employers, said that the conditions of the workers in oil stores were better than in other stores of a similar kind. Although there had been an increase in motor importations and registrations they were using less petrol. There had-been a craze throughout the country to cut down petrol consumption, more lighter cars and lorries, etc., being used than ever before. It was not the companies, but the sellers, that were benefiting by the recently increased prices. Such matters as tariffs and taxation should not affect the present issue.