Minister’s Warning To Employers

Northern Advocate, 25 May 1936, Page 6

Minister’s Warning To Employers

{.From Our Parliamentary Special .] WELLINGTON, This Day.

AN intimation that the Gdyernment may take drastic steps to deal with employers who are dismissing workers in anticipation of the coming into force of the new industrial legislation was given today by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong. The Minister said there were some unscrupulous employers who were attempting to take advantage of their employees, and the Government would not hesitate to pass retrospective legislation if that sort of thing became worse.

The Government, said Mr Armstrong, had been absolutely reasonable in regard to the dates on which the legislation was to come into force. It could have adhered to the original date, June 1, but it decided to change it to July 1, to give-employ-ers breathing space, and, in the case of the shorter working week, it had postponed its operations until September to suit the convenience of employers. The Minister said that already he had received a number of complaints from workers whose services were being dispensed with by their employers. There was art idea , in the minds of some employers that if they dispensed with the services of young persons employed under the Factories Act, they could re-engage the matter the Bill became law at 15/ a week. He wanted to make it clear that they could not do anything of the kind. An Instance. The case of one young man who had matriculated at the age of 16 years was mentioned by the Minister, Owing to the slump, he -said, this young fellow had found it difficult to

Dismissal Of Workers Will Be Stopped

secure a job, but eventually he had obtained one at 10/ a week. He was now receiving £1 a week, although he was one of the most highly educated young fellows in the Dominion. His employer had demanded his resignation and had asked that it be. dated before the end of June, because the Shops and Offices Bill would become law on July 1, and the employer was under the impression that the young man would then have to be paid a wage of £4 a week.

“As a matter of fact,” said the Minister, “the employer Is wrong, because the Bill only fixes the minimum rates, starting at 15/- a week and risi rig to £2 after three years’ service.

An employer who is too miserable to pay a brilliant young man like that £2 a week should not have a license to be in business at all. That type of employer is the exception to the rule, I think. The general run of business men and factory proprietors are more inclined to be helpful than otherwise.

“The object of the unscrupulous employer is to do these things before Bills become law, because they realise that if they wait until after July 1 they will have to give good and sufficient reason for dispensing with the services of but if they are not mighty careful they will find that the Government will take drastic measures for dealing" with .them, and will pass retrospective legislation,” the Minister concluded.