WAGES OF MUSTERERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21136, 19 March 1932, Page 13

WAGES OF MUSTERERS.

RATES BELOW AWARD.

LABOUR MEMBERS INDIGNANT. AGREEMENTS MADE PRIVATELY. [BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Frid ny. .An outburst against a clause in the Arbitration Amendment Bill affecting the wages of South Island mustcrers was made by Labour members in Iho House of Representatives this afternoon. The clause seeks to prevent musterers recovering at law the difference in award rates of wages and the amounts tliey had voluntarily agreed to accept after conferring with shecpowncrs. " This is the most outrageous piece of legislation that has ever been introduced in a New Zealand Parliament," declared Mr. J. McCombs (Labour —Lyttelton). It amounts to barefaced robbery." The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. H. E. Holland, said according to advice given to him eight or nine stations were affected and the amount of money involved did not exceed £l5O or £2OO. The men had been advised on commencing work that unless they were prepared to work for considerably less than award rates thoy would not he engaged. Other Side ot Story.

The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, said only one side of the story had been given. The sheepowners had approached the Government last year and pointed out that awards affecting them did not expire until December 31, and that they would have to wait a long time for the Court to review the conditions. That length of time was considered a definite hindrance, and it was stated that they could not afford to carry on under the old conditions with prices as they were. It was asked that some arrangement should bo mado possible whereby a mutual agreement could bo arrived at regarding wages in order to bring them more into line with the sheepowners' ability to pay. No class of the community was harder hit than thoso farming high country throughout New Zealand. Sheepowners had told the Government that they were bearing heavy losses, and as a result they asked that it should bo possible to come to mutual agreements, whereby less than award rates of pay could be accepted. Mr. Holland: And you became a party to the law-breaking. Question Raised Last Year.

The Prime Minister said the question had been raised before tho formation of tho Coalition Government, and it had been intended to include a clause similar to the present one in a bill that was to follow the presentation of the Supplementary Budget last October. Arrangements were made and both sides were parties. In tho present state of industry employers were able to keep more men in work under agreements made privately than they would have if the award had been enforced. (Loud Labour laughter.) Mr. T. D. Burnett (Government — Temuka) : Quite true.

Mr. McCombsr.Wo can easily imagine you would approve.

Tho Prime Minister said union secretaries had then stepped in and declared that tho awards could be enforced, and cases were brought against the employers. The big sheepowner was looked upon as an enemy of all mankind, especially by tho Labour Party, which refused to give him justice. Mr. F. Langstone (Labour —Waimarino) vehemently attacked tho Prime Minister, and challenged his statements, declaring that he was giving concessions to his wealthy friends that would react detrimentally to workers. The Prime Minister was going to be a party to pilfering the workers. Tho clause was passed.