CLOTHING TRADES AGREE TO HIGHER WAGES

Chronicle (Levin), 10 July 1946, Page 2

CLOTHING TRADES AGREE TO HIGHER WAGES

w —Press Association

By Telegraph-

AUCKLAND, July 9. Coinplete agreement betwreen the- employers and unions in tlie New Zealand, Federated Clotliing Trades, was reported to the Arbitration Court; today. Botli parties appeared to justify under the stabilisation regulations, increased wages provided in the agreement. Atr. W. E. Anderson ajipeared for the employe'rs aud Alr. J; Roberts, of Christchurch, for tlie employees. The increased' wages agreed ujion range from 2s (5d to 7s for juveniles and up to 10s for male jiressers. For 30 years New Zealand clotliing manufacturers had argued that they were unable to concede higher wages and improved conditions because of competition from low wage couutries but as the result of the Government import control, they were 110 longer faced with this competition, said Alr. lioberts. The war had given a tremendous iinpetus to the trade but because of tlie coinparatively low wages paid, manufacturers liad failed to attract workers. The result had been an acute shortage of labour, a serious matter for a coun try almost entirely dependent on iocaily made clotliing. ' We are asking the couit to approve the increased wages. which will briiig the workers in the clotliing trades 011 a par with employees m less essential undertakings, " concluded Alr. -Roberts. Decision was reserved.