STANDARD RATES OF WAGES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26541, 16 August 1947, Page 6

STANDARD RATES OF WAGES

COURT GRANTS INCREASE Threepence an Hour of 1945 Levels AWARDS TO BE ADJUSTED A pronouncement of standard rates of wages, which are to form the basis of new wage rates operating from October 1, has been made by the Arbitration Court. The Court stresses that no application for a general wage order was before it and that, in the absence of such an application, it has no power to consider the making of such an order. The court’s .decision is based on an application for a standard wage pronouncement. It concludes that “ desirable and reasonable adjustments to the standard wage rates can be made without embarrassment to industry and without inflationary effects.” After taking all relevant factors into consideration, the court has decided that the standard minimum rates of wages for adult male workers will in future be as follows: Skilled workers . . 3s 7d per hour Semi-skilled workers . . 3s 2£d to 3s 5£ per hour Unskilled workers . . 3s l£d per hour

These rates, the court stresses, are gross rates and are not to be increased by the application of the court’s general

orders of August, 1940, and March, 1942. It states that, in its decision it has made some allowance for the Government’s intention to remove subsidies. The new rates fixed by the .court amount to approximately 3d an hour (or 10s a week) above the rates ruling in 1945, but the court stresses that the pronouncement does not mean that a general increase of 3d per hour will be granted in all awards and agreements. It indicates that, in amending awards in accordance with

the pronouncement it must have due regard to any increases in wages granted by the court since March, 1 945 . The manner in which the court proposes to make the wage adjustments is not clearly indicated in the decision, but apparently it will proceed, on application by the unions, to amend a majority of awards—notably those that have not been altered since April, 1945—“ on its own motion,” presumably en bloc.

The concluding portion.of the decision says: “ The court announces that all amendments to awards and agreements which may be made to give effect to this pronouncement before October 1, 1947, will operate from that date. There are three reasons for the selection of this date:—

“ First, to allow some time for the amendment of hundreds of awards and agi’eements by the court and for negotiation between the parties in those cases in which the court is not prepared to proceed with the making of amendments on its own motion without affording the" parties an opportunity of being heard or of making written submissions. “ Secondly, for the reason that an allowance has been made in the standard wage rates in respect of probable increases in prices consequent upon the withdrawal of subsidies which will not immediately eventuate.

“ Thirdly, to facilitate price adjustments and accounting, October 1 being the commencement of the second half of the normal financial year.”