WAGES RESTRAINT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27276, 30 December 1949, Page 5

WAGES RESTRAINT

TUC COUNCIL POLICY SUPPORT RECOMMENDED BY MINERS’ LEADERS NZPA—Copyright Rec. 11 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 29. Miners’ leaders yesterday decided to recommend 700,000 colliery workers to support the Trades Union Congress General Council policy on wages restraint, says the Daily Telegraph. The recommendation will be presented to 200 delegates from the coalfields today and if endorsed will be submitted to a vote of all miners. Press Reservations The statement of the Trades Union Congress recommending restraints on profits and wages has been well received by the British newspapers, though there seem to be reservations such as whether it will be supported in practice by individual unions. The Times says: “It is likely that the General Council’s policy will be adopted at the approaching conference, for it has the support of both the great general unions. This will serve little purpose, however, if, in practice, the policy is ignored by most of the unions. “It does not look at present as if the policy will be generally acted upon, even though it was formally adopted, unless there is a change of mood. The Government itself has not, in the months since devaluation, helped to build up the right atmosphere. In the middle of the TUC’s discussions on sliding scales, the Minister of Labour issued statutory orders which meant increases in wages for many retail trade workers. There has been a tendency to take a vipw of the future so rosy as to make the drastic proposals of the TUC appear hardly justified.

“The General Council itself has probably made a mistake in tactics in allowing its attention to concentrate on stability in wage rates rather than in trying much more energetically to turn its attention to the possibilities of increasing earnings by extending and improving the system of payment by results.” Call for Sacrifice

The Daily Herald remarks: “There is no blinking the fact that such a policy (of restraints) calls for sacrifice, often by some of the least prosperous people in the land, even if some other sections of the community temporarily fall short of doing their full duty. But to those who may feel aggrieved, the General Council makes a pledge. It recognises that equality of sacrifice has not yet been achieved, and it promises to take appropriate steps ‘to secure a more equal sharing of the burdens.’

“ Calls on poorly-paid people to acquiesce in their present wage rates are out of tune with the unrestricted profit-making in some industries, and with the salary increases in some professions.

“To be justified, such extra drawings on the nation’s bank balance must square with the principle of higher pay only for higher production.” Courage Commended

The Daily Telegraph says: “ The TUC made an undeniable effort to shoulder its responsibilities. ' A tribute to the courage of this statement should be ungrudging. The Socialist Government has far too often cried ‘wolf’ and acted like a sheep. . But responsible trade union leaders, in spite of political connections with Socialism, to which they still rather pathetically cling, have awakened to the accumulating dangers, both to organised labour and to the nation, of the economic difficulties, coupled with sectional delusions, which have marked and stricken th'e conduct of public affairs for the past foifb and a-half years.” The Daily Mail says: “The TUC is to be commended for its courage and for the realism of parts of its statement. To ask for wage restraint at a time when prices are rising is a remarkable gesture on the part of the trade union leaders. “ It is on a high level of statesmanship, and is indeed a test of the ‘ courage, resolution, and loyalty ’ of the whole movement. . ’. “ But we still find several points for criticism in the statement,” the Daily Mail continues. “ One is that the wage restraint policy gives the trade unions the ‘right to'require complementary action by the -Government presumably in the Budget. The phrase is indefensible. It suggests that the TUC regards itself as a State within the State. Anyone may propose action by the Government, but no organisation, however powerful, may ‘ require ’ the Government to adopt any particular fiscal policy.” ■ The Daily Mail adds: “ Some stimulus in the way of extra profits should be allowed exporters who are required to turn from old-established markets where profits are easily made and to fight hard for the American market.” Necessary Background Lacking The Financial Times observes: “This realistic assessment of the country’s economic condition is refreshing and encouraging. But it still does not go far enough. The positive part of the new programme—the impulse towards incentive schemes and longer hours of work—still lacks its necessary background. , , “In consequence, it is already evaporating in mere talk. In spite of all the council’s good intentions, it is becoming increasingly clear that before a real start can be made .something like resolution in mental attitudes will be required. The first need is that a conviction of the necessity for harder work shall be implanted in the rank and file.