EARLY MOVE LIKELY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27389, 15 May 1950, Page 4

EARLY MOVE LIKELY

Adjustment Of Wages AVOIDANCE OF CONFUSION Industrial Correspondent WELLINGTON, May 14. It is confidently expected that the Government will take early steps to enable the workers to have the benefit of wage increases to offset the higher cost of living. Just as a general price order is promised to enable manufacturers to write their increased costs into prices, so is it expected that there will be little delay in adjusting workers’ incomes. The Federation of Labour has pointed out to the Government that if the Court of Arbitration makes a general order it is precluded from making another for 12 months. Either a simple amendment to the Economic Stabilisation Regulations can be made, or the court could afford an early opportunity for the federation’s claim for £2 5s a week to be heard. The preparation of cases, however, will take a considerable time, and in the meantime there would be general confusion about wage and price adjustments. Already rates are tending to vary from job to job and factory to factory because some employers have given their workers a 5 per cent, interim wage rise. If early action is not taken by the Government, the initiative will pass to the militant unions. The Court of Arbitration has set aside next Tuesday for the making of fixtures, and among those to be made is one for the hearing of the federation’s claim for a general order.