WAGE RISES IN ADVANCE

Chronicle (Levin), 30 October 1947, Page 5

WAGE RISES IN ADVANCE

AUCKLAND, Oct. 29. "The relativc rates of . wages for various vvorkers in 1919 were ai>.->olulei.. wrung and I'arliament and the people have since recogiiised that,". said ivir. Justice Tyndall when considering the application of journaiists for increased wages in the Arbitration Court. The workers' advocaie, Mr. R. S. Thomas, had slatcd that a s-enior journalist had been paid twice as mucn as a printer's compositor in 1919 although he was not suggesting that that was necessarily an arguilient for niaintaming their same relative position now. ' ' Every skilled worKer is in the same position," commeneed 'his Honour, "and that is the eil'ect of the union's own eliorts over the past 50 years." When Mr. Thomas later reierred to the increase provided oy ■ ' generu.1 iegislation", his Honour stated that he stroiigly protested against the prevail ing confusion between the Court and iegislature. He said he often saw referencos to the general increases graiit'ed by the Goveriiment. *' 'Tt suggests that this Court is instructed by the Government as to what it does, " klr. Tyndall added. This was a suggestion which any judicial body musi reseiit. lie pointed out that all the Government did was to authorise tlie Court to deal with such applieations. It was the Court itseif which deeided what increases, if any, were to be allowed. When informed that employers had been making penalty payments for 5A and 6-day weeks under a partial agreement reached in conciiiation, his Honour stated that as the Court had not vet approved the agreeinent, this was a iiagrant breach of stabilisation. Mr. Ilanlcastle, for the employers: The agreement was signed by the Conciiiation Commissioner who is aiso on the Wages Commission. Mr. Tyndall: He was not acting as the Wages Commission. Anyway this Court is eharged with the responsibility for approving any general wage adjustments. "If the employers had to wait for the decision of the Court on theso matters, " stated Mr. Hardcastle, "it would be impossible to earry on business. When his Ilonour repeated that it was still a iiagrant breach of the law, Mr. Hardcastle said: "This country would become general lawbreakers if we did not enforce more of our laws." He added that the employers would be pleased if the Court or Iegislature could tell them how they could persuade the workers to be patient while approval was being awaited. His Ilonour said the Court anyway proposed to carry out the law. The Court reserved its decision.