MAY AFFECT STAFFS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19025, 27 May 1936, Page 9

MAY AFFECT STAFFS

HIGHER WAGE SEQUEL CANTER CUR Y OPINIONS PROTEST TO BE MADE (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, last night. Immediate representations win be made to the Government by the Canter limy Employers’ Association oil several points in llie proposed amendments to the Shops and Offices Act, according to ;i decision made hy a special committee set up recently to consider the proposed new legislation. The committee lias drawn up a report on the legislation, which will be submitted to a conference of retailers and others belonging to the association who will be affected hy the new measures.

One of the points in the representations to the Government will he that there is apparently no provision for a late night for tea-rooms and restaurants, though there is provision for late assistants in retail shops. It- is desired to draw the attention of the Government to this apparent oversight. No protest will he made about wages and overtime, as the provisions are generally accepted as similar to those oi the Factories Act amendment, and it is considered that further protest would lie useless as the attention of the Government has already been drawn to this aspect of the legislation. It is considered obvious that the increases in wages which will be imposed cannot, in many cases, be paid without absorbing most of tbe net profits, and the only alternative will be to replace existing' employees with others who can be paid at the lower rate. The increases in the wages imposed by the Act would make staff adjustments necessary.