SALARY RESTORATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22352, 28 August 1934, Page 8

SALARY RESTORATION

POSITION OF PRIVATE EMPLOYERS STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER. (Pei United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, August 27. Although it is not the Government’s intention to appeal to private employers to follow its lead in restoring portion of the cut made in wages, the Prime Minister (Mr G. W. Forbes) stated to-night that he considered it the duty of every employer where an improvement of conditions was undeniable to follow that lead. He added a tribute to the integrity and fairness of New Zealand employers and said he was confident that without resort to any form of compulsion they would extend the benefits to their employees where improved economic conditions justified their doing so. Speaking of the Government's action in restoring the 5 per cent, cut to its employees, Mr Forbes said that it had given him great pleasure. He recalled that he had always stated publicly that if the economic conditions showed sufficient improvement he would be the first to advocate the restoration of any cuts. He also recalled that in 1922, when Mr Massey was Prime Minister, a .cut was made in the salaries of civil servants, and it had never been restored. He hoped that the Government’s action. through this year’s Budget would be appreciated, and that a further improvement in the financial position wohld be noticed.

Asked if there was any chance of an amendment to the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act by which employees would have power to approach some wage-fixing tribunal, Mr Forbes said that he knew of none. He did not see any need for the reintroduetlon of a provision making it compulsory for the employers to go before the Arbitration Court. His contention was that the action, of private employers' should be dictated by the ability of their particular branches of industry to meet the added charges in the form of wages. If the added burden was justified by the improvement in 'recent trade then it was clearly the employers’ duty to make restorations. He was pleased to note that throughout the country in recent months many organisations of various types had made restorations when they were obviously justified.