REDUCTION IN WAGES.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18351, 10 June 1931, Page 6

REDUCTION IN WAGES.

POWER BOARD WORKERS. OUTSIDE STAFF AFFECTED. MR W r . LEE MARTIN’S PROTEST. In accordance with the recent Arbitration Court decision, the Central Electric Power Board decided this morning to reduce the salaries of its outside staff by 10 per cent, the first £IOO to be exempted. The salaries of the office staff were reduced in the same proportion some weeks ago. About 40 additional employees will be affectedAttention to the Arbitration Court s decision was drawn in a letter from the Auckland Provincial Employers’ Association. Mr. W. Lee -Martin, M.P., pointed out -that the letter used the word “shall" but the general order of the Court was not that wages “shall" be reduced. The employers made the matter appear mandatory and the order of the Court was not mandatory. Mr S. S. Saulbrey: It has no significance.

Mr Martin mentioned that some time ago a conference of power boards unanimously decided that whatever was to be done regarding reducing wages should be a unanimous decision. What was the position noxv?

The chairman (Mr T. Hinton) replied that he understood a Dominion conference of power boards was to be called, but immediate was necessary in the light of the Arbitration Court’s decision. Mr Martin asked whether power boards were reducing wages in the meantime.

The secretary (Mr H. J. Beeche) said he had not heard of any boards taking this action so far. Mr Hinton then moved ‘ that the salaries of the outside staff be reduced by 10 per cent., the first £IOO to be exempt. Mr G. H. Boyd considered the board had taken' a very fair view of the position. Unanimity Desirable. The opinion that all -power boards should act in the same way was expressed by Mr A. Livingstone. Mr Martin agreed and considered that nothing should be done until all boards were unanimous. Some of the boards he knew were not going to reduce wages. He had not been present at the board meeting when it was decided to reduce the wages of the inside staff but he was glad to see that the first £IOO had been exempted'Personally, he thought the cut should not- have affected anyone receiving less than £4 a week. He moved an amendment that the question of reducing wages of the outside staff be deferred until next meeting and that the secretary communicate with other boards for the purpose of ascertaining whether the unanimous resolution carried at the recent conference of power boards would be adhered to.

Seconding - the amendment pro forma, Mr J. J. Ryburn.said no matter what the other board’s were doing the Central Board should lead, the way. They should treat the staff in the same way as they had treated themselves. They should follow the recommendation of the Arbitration Court. The board would be passing on the effect of the cut by abolishing the flat rate charges on cow-plant and separators. Mr Martin: We would be passing that on in any case. Mr Ryburn added that he saw no reason why action -should be delayed as the cut was supposed to take effect from June 1.

The chairman expressed the view that the board’s reduction was mild and they would be fortunate if they did not have to reduce still more, "A Miserable Outlook.” “As we have cut the wages of the inside staff we should not delay following a similar course with the outside staff,” remarked Mr Boyd. “We should not make fish of one and fowl of the other." Mr Saulbrey: We must put our house in order. Never mind about anyone else. Mr Lee Martin pointed out that the Wellington City Council had decided that no employee receiving less than £4 a week should have his salary reduced. The Auckland Transport Board had had three meetings for 'the purpose and had not yet decided whether a cut was justified. Mr Saulbrey: With the value of our primary products down by £20,000, 000 you don’t consider a cut justified? “Nobody is justified In bringing the people down 'to a lower standard of living,” replied Mr Martin. “You are only cutting your own throats by reducing the spending power of the people. Surely it Is a miserable'outlook for a man to say ’I am down to £2; the other man must come down to the same amount.’ ”

Mr W. Henry said the primary producer had been suffering for the last two years and It was quite time that the rest of the community suffered also.

The amendment was lost, Messrs Lee Martin, George and Livingstone supporting it. The chairman’s motion was then carried. It was decided that the cut should operate from to-day.

waitaki power eoard. REDUCTION DECIDED ON. (By Telegraph.—l’iess Association.) OAMARU, Wednesday. The Waitaki Power Board passed a resolution reducing the 'salaries of the staff. There will be no reduction in salaries under £149, 71 per cent, on £l5O to £260, and 10 per cent., ovn;- £260.