WAGE RESTORATION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 200, 14 July 1936, Page 2

WAGE RESTORATION

PROVISION IN BILL. PREMIER’S ANNOUNCEMENT. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 13. Pi obably tho first Bill of importance to be considered by the House when it resumes next Tuesday after the midwinter recess will be a Finance Bill pioviding for the full restoration of all cuts in salaries and wages. The Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage), in an interview to-night, stated that the Government desired to bring this legislation forward as soon as possible, so that firms awaiting its introduction before they restored cuts would know exactly where they stood. When the House met on Tuesday formal business would be taken, and then there would ho an adjournment out of respect to the memory of the late Sir William Hall-Jones.

The Finance Bill would deal only with tho restoration of salaries and wages. This would bo made retrospective to July 1, both inside the Civil Service and outside of it.

Pension increases and tlio payment of invalidity pensions would also date from July 1, hut provision for them would he made in a separate Pensions Bill, which probably would not be brought forward until the Budget had been presented. A Bill providing for the readjustment of mortgages will follow the Finance Bill, Mr Savage said, and then the way would he clear for tho presentation of tho Budget. “That procedure may possibly ho altered, but at present our desire is to put tho Mortgage Bill through as quickly as possible.” Questioned about the Budget, Mr Savage repeated that tho Government intended to honour their pledge to distribute taxation so that the main burden rested on the shoulders of thoso best able to bear it.