WAGE REDUCTIONS

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20171, 25 February 1931, Page 10

WAGE REDUCTIONS

PUBLIC SERVANTS' PROTEST. METHODS OF OPPOSITION. (HMSSS ASSOCIATION TKUEOUAU.) TIMABU, February 24. „ At a mass meeting of public servants held to-night, the following resolution" was carried: That this meeting of pubr lie servants protests against the. Prime Minister's Budget balancing proposals. While prepared to accept a reasonable share of the country's burden,'we will •, oppose by every constitutional method I any attempt to make the Public Serj vice again carry an unreasonable share of tho country's financial burdens. The methods of opposition include the following:— | (a) Refraining from making pur- | chases in those parts of . city areas | where ground rents are excessive. , (b) Attempts to., bring down local prices of produce, including wheat and butter to the world's parity. (c) Co-operation with other industrial unions to secure equality of > sacrifice. (d) Organising to prevent any attempt to prorogue Parliament. (e) Setting up a permanent executive of the Pubuc Service workers to guard against further raids. (f) That in the event of a reduction in wages taking effeet all rented houses be brought within the scope of the Bent Restrictioh ; Act, and that the said Act be permanently placed on the Statute Book. (g) Propaganda to place before farmers the fact that if "they -used the Government transport facilities instead of privately-owned motors, the national deficit would be reduced by a considerable sum. EMPLOYERS' DECISION AT WELLINGTON. (MUMS USOCUTXOH TXXJCMiX.) WELLINGTON, February 24.' The Wellington drapers and boot retailers held a meeting of their organisation a day or two ago and decided to make reductions, commencing oa March Ist, in the wages and salaries of all members of their staffs who are'not* under the jurisdiction of the Arbitration .Court.. - .: la the case of those under an award who receive above award rates, the re- ■ duction will be 10 per cent, or down to award rates. In the building trade, cuts have beenmade in some departments by Arms who have been paying above the award rates. Labourers are new being paid award rates only, and carpenters who were receiving Id ind 2d an hour ver the award rate are now receiving only ✓ Jd an hear over the award. CITY RETAILERS* DECISION, A ten per. cent, reduction in salaries fund wagea of all employees not ander the jurivdteifari of the Arbitration Court, and "V' deduction of fWremunera-' tion of all thbse who have) been receiving wages in excess, of those provided by the awards has been decidedupon by,.' the Christchurch Drapers' 1 , , Clothiers', and Boot ftefcdlopi' Association.' This step has been taken with a view to - bringing, about a further reduction ia the eost of living.' , The. reductions; said Mr C.>Ogilvle, ' president of the Association, yesterday, would affect everyone in the'eonstitnent . firms from the manager downward, ,tak-. » ing effect as from the beginaingef next - month. New conditions imposed the ' necessity for such drastic 'action:"' TII6 primary producer t was' receiving low&t . prices for his goods, tnd ifcwa# only;' right thjit the' workers in Hie cities ~ ahould blear their'stare of.the burden ; - of difficult times, , Bis firm, hee&id, t recognised "this, and reedgnistid it" At; * their du,ty to render their service to' the people at a reduced .. His firm, in common with manjp others, n would go through , their whole flehfeclule * of costs as well as 'selling Tho reduction of' co»ta, in the made possible by the reduction of.wages, , would be fully passed on to the pub- - lie. , " i Mr Ogilvie'pointed out that one of the prime objects of the reduetibs was to obviate the' necessity of uiflmisging "or rationing''further members of the Staffs, it- was unfortuante that similar, action had not been taken at least six months ago. For purposes of comparison, Mr'Qgiliie mentioned that before the war,th6 award rate for stele shop r assistants was £2 15#" weekly,;,and for •females £l7s 6d, whereas re- - Sective rate's were £4 15s and; : s-fld. . , . .- »• ; The motion pasted atHhe meeting of l retailers was as follows:''That we ure compelled by the state. - .of 'business to reduce salaries and w*ges alongv the lines of the Government's recommendations; that this reduction take effeet as from March 1 in all cases 1 which axe not governed by Arbitration Court' awards;' and-that meantime W*e ' recommend all member# "of/ the tirade, ■ not; ito t>r ration<■■ further- mem- ■ bers of - , their staff who ar^ /working Lender awards until the GoveriroeiLkdecision regarding the Arbitration Court is made."