Employers Look At Wages and Hours

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 46, 23 February 1945, Page 4

Employers Look At Wages and Hours

Industrial problems as between employer and employee, were spoken about at the annual meeting of the Manawatu-Wairarapa Employers’ Association in Palmerston North last night. The president, Mr. W. M. Sexton, said the Government’s plan in regard to stabilisation and control of prices and wages were having to be adjusted due to political pressure from the trade unions. From the employers’ point of view, many were quite willing to admit that the workers had a good deal in their favour so far as their wages claims were concerned. The wages being paid, after taxation was taken off, were not enough for the average man to live on and employers should be prepared to consult and cooperate Avith the unions and employee groups with the view of getting a better standard. “I don’t mean that we should go ahead and give rises in pay without returns,” added Mr. Sexton. * 1 The workers should set their house in order and give a better return for ilie money paid them. Most- of us as employers will agree that the services and general conduct of the workers have deteriorated iu the last few years because they were in the happy position of knowing we had to have their services and put up with things which we would* not tolerated two or three years ago.” Mr. Sexton considered there should be a certain amount of uniformity in awards. One trade group could not expect to be more highly paid than another. He urged employers to make themselves conversant with all awards so as to avoid having anything pushed on to them that other workers were ifbt receiving. Mr. W. 11. Brown said uniformity in hours was going to bo one of the bones of contention in the future. He asked Mr. Sexton if he favoured the 40-liour week and should employers push for an extension? Mr. Sexton said it was inevitable that hours would become uniform and the 40-hour week might have to be recognised. “We might not get unanimity but we can get somewhere towards uniformity,” he added. Mr. D. J. Rogers said the abolition of the national security tax would immediately provide the worker with extra wages. Mr. Brown: There is no chance of that coming off till after the war. Mr. V. R. Gravistock: Not until rehabilitation is finished with.