BEDROCK REACHED

Northern Advocate, 31 October 1932, Page 6

BEDROCK REACHED

ENGINEERING DISPUTE,

WAGES THE CRUX,

POSITION OF THE INDUSTRY

(Per Press Association. —Copyright.) WELLINGTON, This Day,

The hearing of the dispute in the engineering industry was continued before the Conciliation Commissioner, Mr \V. Newton, on Saturday.

A deadlock resulted when the employees refused to waive a proposal to insert in the new award a clause classifying workers into various sections of the industry, and preventing a member of one section from doing work in another section.

-Mr G. A. Pascoe, Christchurch, said his (irm had submitted the lowest New Zealand tender for a Government contract, but had been underbid by a British’ firm. Many thousands of pounds worth of work had gone out of the Dominion. Had it not been for the wages his firm was compelled to pay, it would have been able to secure the contract.

The assessor for the employees said that workers in Britain were able to accept lower wages because their cost of living was lower. Employers, he contended, should help to reduce standing costs.

“Every time we try to do it you put a concrete wall up against it,” said Mr T, 0. Bishop, employers' advocate. “Wages play a very big pa it in all standing costs, and you’ always fight against v.ages being brought down. The point you entirely overlook is that we are the least self-sup-porting community in the world. Our principal market is in every country where you say wages are too low. We cannot only buy more cheaply there, but wo have to sell our goods there. If yon were lending money to someone who was living more expensively than you were, you would begin to wonder whether you were going to got your money back, and that is what this country lias been doing.

‘ ‘We have been able to carry on in the past because we have borrowed to make up the difference, but it does not seem to me practicable, or possible, to maintain a higher standard than the country to which we sell our products," said Mr Bushop. “If we all work together, adjustments can be brought abofft with less hardship than would otherwise be the case, but do not think it can be avoided."

Mr A. Black, Wellington, one of the employees ' assessors, said he did not agree with Mr Bishop's theory. If wages had not been reduced in Great Britain, New Zealand would still bo securing good' prices for its products.

“I am quite prepared to admit that there is something wrong with the social system which has brought about the present state of affairs, but that does not alter the domestic position in New Zealand/ ’ said Mr Bishop. ‘ ‘ New Zealand is absolutely dependent on its overseas markets for the consumption of a large proportion of its products. I had been hoping that when the new export season commenced things would- improve, but apparently there is not nfueh to be hoped for this year/' Mr Bishop pointed but that wool had fallen one penny a pound as compared" with the price this time last year. Fat lambs, which had been the only source of profit to many farmers, had dropped from S l-8d- per lb to 4 7-Sd and 5d per lb. There were just enough bright spots on the horizon to encourage the employers to carry on.

No progress having boon made on the major questions, the commissioner suggested an adjournment. Upon the resumption of tike hearing, Mr G. T. Thurston, Christchurch, said the employees would like to hoar what concessions, if any, the other side was prepared to offer. Mr Bishop: “What is the good of spa rring for a win? You seem frightened in your own minds to ns. There is no need lo be frightened. Any thing you say is without prejudice. We are hc*ro It. make a deal with you if we can. Is there any hope of success? You are still frightened to tell us. You say ‘.Show us your hand.’ We have no hand to show you. If you tell ns you are prepared, to pursue a certain line, then we can proceed to discuss it, otheiwise we may as well pack up and go home.”

Mr Thurston said that under no circumstances were tic workers prepared to accept 1/10:1 cl an hour for skilled work.

Mr Bishop: “Well, gentlemen, all I have to say is, thank you for coining here, and thank yon, Mr Commissioner, for presiding. The commissioner said he had great hopes that, an agreement would have been arrived at. However, that was not possible. Both parties had made an honest attempt to meet each other.

Expressing regret that negotiations had failed for the present, Mr Bishop said the only thing for the parties to ;lo was to continue as best they could without an award. In most districts, satisfactory agreements had been entered into, although some trouble had occurred in Wellington. The work was there if the men wanted it. Ho thought everybody was making an honest attempt to meet the situation. Mr Thurston said the employees were just as anxious as the employers to come to an agreement, but they were not prepared to agree to any old thing.