WORKERS’ WAGES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25563, 16 June 1944, Page 2

WORKERS’ WAGES

STABILISATION CHANGES

MORE POWER FOR ARBITRATION COURT

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, June 15. Important changes in the stabilisation administration machinery were announced by the Minister in Charge of Stabilisation, Mr D. G. Sullivan, tonight. The Minister pointed out that the Prime Minister, Mr P. Fraser, on April 6 announced a wage cost allowance to dairy farmers, and at the same time referred to the Government's intention to take further measures to give relief generally to the lower-paid workers. In February the Government sought to relieve the lower-paid workers by restoring the power of the Arbitration Court to deal with applications for wage increases up to £5 5s for adult males and £3 for adult females. The operation of this amendment had not been satisfactory owing to difficulties caused by the rigidity of the fixed figures and by reason of the provision that any movement towards these fixed amounts should not be deemed to create an anomaly, although in fact it did so. After other methods were considered, it was decided that the best solution was to bring the Arbitration Court more actively into the stabilisation, process. The broad effect of the latest amendment,” the Minister said, “ is to give the Arbitration Court in making its awards general power to deal with applications for variations in wages and conditions of employment, while still having regard to the general purpose of the Stabilisation Regulations, but not taking into account any fluctuations in the cost of living. Such fluctuations were provided for in the original regulations, which still provide that a general order increasing rates of remuneration should be made when there is an increase m the wartime price index of not less than 5 per cent, or not less than 24 per cent, in. the first instance.

“The essential purpose of the new amending regulations,” Mr Sullivan said, “ is to find a more effective means of removing the injustices which may have been done to individual workers or groups of workers under the original Stabilisation Regulations.” The Government by the latest amendment, he added, was endeavouring to restore flexibility to the wages structure within the limits of the stabilisation policy. The changes were not weakening stabilisation. ( On the contrary, the Government hoped and believed that they would have the effect of making stabilisation fit more easily to the country’s war-time economy.