DAIRY INDUSTRY

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21356, 26 February 1941, Page 4

DAIRY INDUSTRY

j FURTHER PENALTY | ARBITRATION COURT’S AWARD | COST OF LIVING BONUS Sharp criticism of the recent Arbitration Court order affecting the increase in wages to dairy factory ; managers was voiced at a meeting iof the South Auckland Dairy As- | sociation, in Hamilton today, j Writing to the association, Mr J. I Thorn. M.P. for Thames, on the subject of the resolution passed by the association asking for the application of the same principle in reference to the cost of living bonus to dairy factory managers as the Government applied to civil servants, Mr Thorn said that personally he | could not see much wrtftig with the i resolution. "I can,” he said, “only [ conclude that the Arbitration Court ; had some very strong reason for the decision it came to on your appeal. |ln my opinion the same principle ; might reasonably be applied to the i guaranteed price. It does seem to me that the question of living costs, or any other costs, becomes rather mythical when a man, whoever he is, has an income of over £375 a year. During a war he ought to be able to carry on fairly comfortably on this.” Referred to Cabinet Mr W. Perry reported on the deputation’s conference with the Hon. P. C. Webb in Wellington on the same subject. A promise had been given that Cabinet would consider the matter, but nothing further had been heard of it. Meantime it was claimed that the Arbitration Court’s award required payment of the bonus. Again representations were made to the Government and a reply was received that the Cabinet would certainly not think of disturbing a ruling of that court. The speaker said that attitude did not square with the action of Cabinet on an earlier occasion in increasing the award wages of certain workers in Auckland. Mr C. J. Parlane said the court’s award was making the position of dairy companies increasingly difficult. He felt that men cm the higher range of wages or salaries shoulo not have been given, in the time ol sacrifices, a bonus. Other Increases Probable Speakers made it clear that very happy relations existed between managers and company directorates, and that the increase granted would probably result in applications to the court for further increases to all employees. “It was cne of the most flagrant injustices perpetrated on the dairy industry,” said one member, and others contended that the principle was wrong. If a bonus was necessary for factory managers it should also be granted throughout the civil service, where there is no bonus to any servant in receipt of £375 per annum or over. Letters of protest are to be sent to the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition asking that a bill be brought before next session of Parliament to nullify the effect of the court order.