CONFERENCE WANTED

Chronicle (Levin), 4 October 1946, Page 5

CONFERENCE WANTED

-Press Association

Ciarifyfi^ SMilisatteii

WORKERS SEEK REABJUSTMENT

By TelecrapTi—

CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 3. The o'pinion that a peace-ti'me stabilisatioii coniereiiee should be called and th'at the ti'nie was overdue for a readjustnieht of wage rates following rec'ent industrial legislation and price movements, was expressed by the Canterburv Trades Council .of the Federatioii of Labour tohight." The Council supported the attitude of the Ganterbury Builders aiid General Laboifrefs and Related Workers Uil'ion expressed in the following r evolution at tlio September quarterly meeting. "That this union supports the action of the Wellington Labourers and Wellington Watersiders Unions requesting the Federation of Labour to liave the position oi stabilisation clarified by the Government. Further, that the apparent disregard sIioavii for the regulations in the case of higher paid personages, including the Govern-or-General and Judges, as embodied in the recent Finance Bill, is vieAved with grave concern." The Trades Council was asked by the Union to support the resolution. "The Council will appreciate the procedure in operation whefe increases in the wage rates of workers have to be justified before the Court of Arbitrat.ion, " stated thc letter signed by t.he secretary of the Union (Mr. James Shankland). "Tn the instance quoted in the resolution, th§> increaseu granted do not appear to require any regard for the regulations While agreofng with thc prineiple and application of stabilisation. it is essential if industrial peace is 1o be maintained, that. the regulations are applied to all walks of life. Tlie workers are refused increases liecanse of stabilisation yet cornpany dividends increase and higher paid personages rec.eive increases despite stabilisation."