THE BASIC WAGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22578, 17 November 1936, Page 11

THE BASIC WAGE

UNIONS' OPPOSITION CONCERTED PROTEST LIKELY Within the past week the dissatisfaction of Auckland unionists with the basic wage lias developed to the point where union secretaries have had informal discussions to decide whether concerted action should be taken to press for a commission of inquiry. Since the announcement by the Arbitration Court that the basic wage had been fixed at £3 16s for male and £1 16s for female workers, certain unions in Auckland and elsewhere have criticised the Court's finding, while others have actively engaged in canvassing the opinions of other unionists. In a number of instances unions in various parts of the country are reported to have sent critical resolutions to the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, while as far as Auckland is concerned the majority of unions intend to discuss the matter at their coming meetings. The Auckland trades union secretaries yesterday held a meeting, "more or less informal," one secretary described it, with the idea of arriving at a common decision which they could place lK'fore their unions. Trades unionists in the Auckland district will in all probability he asked to give their support to a protest against the basic wage.

COURT CRITICISED UXIOX AT XAPIKR [by TK.I.IXRAI'II —i'KKSS ASSOCIATION] NAPIER, Monday A meeting of the Napier branch of the General Labourers' Union to-day passed a resolution expressing the opinion that the workers would never receive justice from tho present personnel of the Arbitration Court and calling on the Government to give effect to the spirit of the recent legislation, it was contended that the basic wages of .L.'l 16s and £1 16s were too low, and it was suggested that Mr. A. L. Monteith, the workers' representative, should bo replaced.