NO POWER TO RESTORE ‘CUT’

Taranaki Daily News, 24 May 1934, Page 5

NO POWER TO RESTORE ‘CUT’

POSITION OF ARBITRATION COURT. WELLINGTON LABOUR CONTENTION By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night, A. contention that the Arbitration Court is powerless in the absence of new legislation to make a general order re* storing the 10 per cent, wages reduction to industry all round was made to-day by the president of the Trades and Labour Council, Mr. J. Read, in discussing the trend towards the handing back of the wages reduction to the workers of New Zealand. Mr. Read stated that representatives of labour interests proposed to wait upon the Government regarding the question. HOSPITAL BOARD’S RESTORATION. CHRISTCHURCH’MOVE JUST FAILS. Christchurch’, Last Night. Another attempt to persuade the North Canterbury Hospital Board to restore part of the. wages reductions to its employees made by Mr. W- S. Spencer at to-day’s meeting of the board failed by one vote. . . ‘ Mr. Spencer moved that the decision of the board made at the last meeting not to increase Ry 5 per cent, the salaries and wages of those earning mw a year or less should be rescinded. The motion was defeated by 10 votes .to 9, but Mr. Spencer announced his intention to move at the board s next meeting that the wages of all employees receiving £lOO a year or less should be increased by 10 per cent. Because they did not vote for the proposal to restore the wages reductions seven members of the board’s finance committee were bitterly attacked by the Rev. J. K. Archer, who moved that the following members of the committee should be discharged: Sir Hugh Acland, Messrs H. R. Davison, L. B. Evans, H. H. Holland,. D. McMillan, H. J. Otley and F. Rowell. After a spirited exchange of hostilities Mr. Archer’s suggestion was defeated, only three members beside himself voting for it „ “The finance committee as it is at present is totally unfit to have charge of the board’s affairs,” said Mr. Archer. “It is the board’s duty to look after the sick and the poor, but it .seems to me the finance committee is more willing to grind the faces of the poor. It has not the confidence of 30 per cent, of the electors." Mrs. E. R. McCombs seconded the motion as a protest against the refusal of the finance committee to recommend the restoration of wage reductions. She said she did not understand the attitude of the medical men on the board, They did- not seem to realise that they depended on the efficiency of the nurses and that the nurses were essential in some cases where doctors were practically useless. . . . •. Mr. Archer called for a division, he himself, Mrs. McCombs, Mrs. T. Green and Mr. J. S. Barnett being the only ones to support the motion.