NO HIGHER THAN AWARD RATES

Southland Times, Issue 22956, 31 July 1936, Page 8

NO HIGHER THAN AWARD RATES

Wages Payable Under Bill

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, July 30. An indication that when making the restoration of wages to the 1931 level, employers would not be compelled to pay higher than award rates, where workers were under awards, was given by the Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash) when replying to points raised during the committee discussion on the Finance Bill in the House of Representatives to-day. Mr R. A. Wright (Ind., Wellington Suburbs) mentioned the position of employers who had been paying wages above the award rates in 1931, when the cuts were made. Mr Nash said that nothing in the Bill would compel any employer to pay more than award rates. . T f an agreement had been entered into he would have to, but the award rates would be the governing factor in general cases. Of course, nothing would stop an employer from paying rates higher than the 1931 rate, if he so desired. If there was no award rate paid in 1931, an employee must still be paid for the same service.

“We can restore wages to the 1931 level now, but ultimately we hope to have them infinitely better than the 1931 rates,” stated the Minister, when replying to an Opposition question whether the Government aimed at perpetuating the 1931 wages level. Later in the discussion Mr Nash was asked why the salaries of Civil Servants had not been restored to an earlier date.

“Perhaps there was not enough money in ordinary circulation to justify the increase as from April 1,” the Minister said. “I am not saying that that was the position. I am saying that perhaps it was so.”