CASE FOR WAGE RISE?

Chronicle (Levin), 27 January 1949, Page 5

CASE FOR WAGE RISE?

Railwaymen Deny Suggestion . . At Hearing WELLINGTON, Jan. 26.. ' A suggestion that the railwaymen 's •organisation was trying to establisii a case for -a general increase in wages throughout industry was denhed by the assistant general secretary of the 'Amaigamated Society of ' JRaiiway Servanfcs (Mr. J. S. Berry) when he was questioned today on his submissitms oeiore the Railways Industrial Tnbunai. The heariug may bvcupy a f ortnigh r, as the clainrs ' by f'he Amalgainated Society of Railway Servants are to be followed by those of the related organisations, the Engineers', Firemen 's, and Cleaners ' Association, the Railwav Tradesmen's Association, and the Railway Officers' Iiistitute. The assessor for tlie Railways Department (Mr. N. L-. Stevenson) asked Mr. Berry about his statement thal there was Jiseontent, even resentment. among railway wor'kers. That was the information possessed by the executive of his union, said Mr. Berry. He would say that tlie feeling was -general, and that the big ma.jority of railway workers believed that a wage increase was necessary to placo them on an equal footing with workers outside. "On the Treadmill" Mr. Berry said the union preferred stabilisatioh to tlie wav things were going at present. However, in see ki ng

wages inci'eases, the union was forced, . while it was on the treadmill, to lii't its feet. He admitted that an iiierea.se was allowed after the New Zealand Federation of Labouo; apptied to the Arbitration Court for a general wage pronouncement, and that the increase was the result of "an application by thv General Manager of Railways."Bnt a lot of water has run unde'the bridlge siuce then, ' ' stated Mi. Berry. While there had been increases in line with tlie Court 's pronounc,:ment, tliere- had been mcreases mi other industries sinee 1947, when the pronouncem.ent was made. Mr. Stevenson drew uttention to tln- . inereases in savings, and asked Mr Berry wliether a large proportion uf | these would not be the savings of wage earners. Mr. Berry said he could not state that, from his knowledge, and he considered that wage-earners had not received their proportion of the national ineome. "Is it not signifieant, ' ' asked Mr. | Stevenson, "that, during lean times the worker obtained a greater share of tlie national ineome than in prosperoutimesf" During the depression, the wageearners were on the bread line, repiied . Mr. Berry. "Are you not endeavouring to make; a case for a general increase in wages! riglit throughout industry?" asked Mr. | Stevenson. Mr. Berry repiied that his union was! presenting- a case for its own member 1" ship. It seemed, however, that there i was room for a general increase, but a bigger increase for the membership oi his union. There was nothing in his^ submisisons concerning a general increase. Mr. Stevenson: But, in making your case, you are touching on Dominionwi.de eeonpmics? — Yes. Are you asldng the Tribunad to rectify an unsatisfactory position which exists ge'nerally ?- — If you read the claim through, you will see that tliat is not our intention. Are you not basing vour claim on the state of the economy of the Dominiou? — No. That is one aspect of our claim. When Mr. Stevenson asked whether the Tribunal should not consider tlie economy of the railway. .service Itself, ; Mr. Berry said it wak thd. efficie-neyf of ! the service which was important. There. was nothing. in the Tribunal Act ra- ; lating to the economy of the service. : Railway Losses Mr. Stevenson: It is evidently your! opiuion that the unfortunately heavy operating losses of the Departntent, and the cost involved in meeting such a claim as this, should be disregarded bv the Tribunal. . Mr. Berry repiied that losses foi which the men were not responsible should be disregarded -in considering the efficienCy of the Department. Asked whether the public should be required to pay higher fares, Mr. Berry said he was not suggesting anjhhing. Mr. Stevenson: Have you any idea of the am oun t involved in this claim, and in the other elaims to be heard?— No. I have no idea. It would be astronomical, probably. The Deparlment would put tlie worst light on it. MTiere is the cost to come from?— It is not my job to suggest where it should come from. I suggest that the money must eome" from taxafion or some other souree? It must come from some source. Mr. Berry was referred to a recenl statement by the Minister of Finance f (Mr. Nash) that the economic stalhlity of the country would be upset by granting this and other wage elaims and that rises in the Government service would be followed inevitably by inereases outside. The hearing is continuing". ^