WAGES AT CEILING

Chronicle (Levin), 5 February 1948, Page 5

WAGES AT CEILING

(N.Z.P.A.-

— Reuter.

- White Paper Urges That RisesCease

CopyrigHi)

> Received Thursday,. 10 a.m. LONDON, Feb. 4. The Frime' Minister, Mr. Attlee, read a White Faper in the House of Commbns today, itrgiiig that there should be no further rises in wages. The Wliite Paper says, however, that the Government will not arbitrarily peg wages, but it is essentiai that thsre should be ho j further general increase in the ; level of persohal ihcomes, without, 1 at least a corresponding increase in the volume of production. It was not desirable for the Government to inteffere direetly with the income of individuals otherwise than by taxation. j "It is essentiai that there should be the strictest adherence to the terms of tlie' collective agreements ensuring orderly wage movements. "Iii the present conditions, and until more gocds and servic.fes are available for the home market, there is no justification for a general increase of money incomes, which will merely raise the cost of production without makiiig more | goods available, and so can have ' only an inflationary effect. "It does not follow that it would be right to stabilise all inecmies as they stand today. There may be cases in which increases would be justified from a national viewpoint, and each claim for an increase must be considered on its national merits." ,