WAGES AND INDUSTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21325, 28 October 1932, Page 13

WAGES AND INDUSTRY

MEETING NEW CONDITIONS VIEWS OF EMPLOYERS FRESH BASIC RATE DESIRED The annual meeting of the Auckland Provincial Employers' Association was held yesterday. The president, Mr. Albert Spencer, presided. In moving the adoption ofMhe annual report, Mr. Spencer said that the system of wage fixing by Arbitration Court awards had proved quite inadequate to meet the rapid change in conditions brought about by the practical collapse of prices received from primary products, and tfie consequent reduction in the earning power of labour. Notwithstanding the action of the Government and the Arbitration Court in declaring a 10 per cent reduction to all awards, this was not sufficient to stop the alarming increase of unemployment, and it was evident the only hope to stem the tide was for employers and workers to get together and come to some mutual understanding regarding v/ages and working conditions, which required immediate action. After dealing with the provision made by legislation to alter the industrial machinery, Mr. Spencer said the position now was that the parties to a dispute would be bound by a bargain made in common with themselves, and not an award imposed by an external authority. Workers would have to realise that those who paid the wages must necessarily decide what amount of wages the industry could afford to pay, and also whom they would or would not employ. The president dealt at length with the economic situation and the heavy burden of taxation, and devoted some time to the question of unemployment. He also took the opportunity to report on his attendance at the Conference of the International Labour Office at Geneva last year. In seconding the adoption of the report, Mr. J. S. Dawes, vice-president, stated that there was a vital necessity for all employers standing together. It was not the wish of employers that awards should be cancelled. Common sense, however, demanded that all awards should be placed on an economically sound basis, that is, that they should provide only for wages which the employers could afford to pay, and reasonable restrictions which should not, as at present, so seriously handicap responsible employers as to leave them helpless in face of the competition of those not employing labour, and therefore not restricted in any way. The members of the executive committee, numbering 28, were re-elected. Messrs. J. F.. Buddie and Son were reelected auditors. The following remit was approved to be sent forward for discussion at the Employers' Federation Conference in Wellington next week: —"That the federation take steps to obtain an authoritative pronouncement in regard to a new basic wage, either by referring a representative dispute to the Arbitration Court or other means."