“Workers Will Not Benefit From Higher Wages”

Northern Advocate, 13 September 1940, Page 4

“Workers Will Not Benefit From Higher Wages”

[Special to “Northern Advocate ”] AUCKLAND, This Day.

The recent general order made by the Arbitration Court granting an increase of 5 per cent, in wages to all employees working under awards or industrial agreements is criticised in the annual report of the Auckland Provincial Employers’ Association, which is to be presented to members ,at a meeting to be held on Thursday next.

The report says that in recent months almost every new award prescribed higher wage rates or more expensive conditions. In the long run the workers

would reap no benefit from the in-

crease of 5 per cent granted in the i general order, because employers ? would he obliged to pass on the | increased wage costs to the con- i sumer by way of increased prices •

and goods for services,

The report adds that all agreed that production should be maintained at its present level, and, if possible, increased.

Must Work Harder.

Approximately 60,000 men had left | trade and industry to join the armed f forces and the remainder must work | harder and longer if production was f to be maintained or increased. ] “If hour's of work were increased j by 10 per cent and the workers paid f extra—say, ordinary rates—for the | extra time worked, production would • be maintained and possibly increased,! and the workers’ additional earnings | would more than offset any present or \ future increase in the cost of living,” | says the report. i “This simple, logical and, in fact? only solution of the problem cannot? be disregarded jfor long.” 1