But Stabilisation Regulations Must Be Observed

Chronicle (Levin), 13 April 1949, Page 6

But Stabilisation Regulations Must Be Observed

Press Association)

(Per

WELLINGTON, April 12. "After taking all relevant factors into consideration, the Court has decided that standard minimum rates of wages for adult male workers will in future be as follows : — Skilled workers 3s lld per hour, semi-skilled workers 3s 6d to 3s 8|d per hour, and unskilled workers 3s 5d per hour," says the pronouncement of the Arbitration Court on new standard wages, issued tonight. The Court announces that all amendments made to give effect to this pronouncement, will operate from June 1, 1949. The pronouncement is signed by Judge Tyndall and is accompanied by opinions on-the judgment by the employers' representative, Mr. IV. Oecil Prime, and 'Mr. F. C. Allerby, employees' repreSentative. " Vve are satisfied that the adoption of the foregoing rates will no t jeopardise the eeonomic stability of the country provided the Stabilisation regulations are observed by employers and workers and enforced. If they are not observed and enforced, it' will liot be the fault or responsibility of this Court," eontinues the iiulo-mpilt 1

The" present minimum standard hour- 1 Iv rates for adult male workers were iixed by the Court iu its pronouncement. of -August 15, 194 7. as follow: Skiiied workers 3s 7d per hour, semi-skilled workers 3s 2id to 3s 5.1d per hour aud unskilled workers 3s Ud per hour. The workers' application reeently oei'ore the Court was that standard minimum hourly rates for adult male workers should be: Skilled workers 4s id per hour, semi-skilled workers 3s s Id to 3s 1 1 \ ti per hour aud unskilled workers 3s 7Jd per hour. The judgment eontinues: "It will be noted that the niargin between the standard rate for unskilled workers .ijnl standard iute for skilled workers iias been im-reased. It previously was 5U1 per hour and will in future be (31 ■u-r hour. The Court has taken this ai'tion ior several reasons. I or a nuu: oer of years the elfective margin of an a rt'isan, in lernis of purchasing power, has been steadilv falling yet the couu try has 'oeeit eudeavouring, at the samc time. io inerease its skilled labour ,'urrc. We are taking important steps .o j i \ italise our apprentieeship system :nid im[irove training of tradesmen. kiore coinpreheusive and uiore exactiug trade examinatious are to be inaugurated. In tiiese ciivumstances we think ihat it is in the best interests of the . ountry that an iniprovement iu the 4at niargin for skilf should be granted. ',Ve wouid mention that the present margin between rates for unskilled and -killed workers eniployed by the fcltate is bruadly G'jd per hour. Women and Juniors. "Adult i'emaie workers and junior uialf' and female workers: We propose, in aniending awards and industrial agreements as the result of this pronouncement, to inerease in generai the rates oi' rennmeration of adult female workers by sueh an amount as will bring them to a level approximately 10s jier week above the rates wliich operated from Oetober 1, 1947. The rates hw junior workers will be adjusted proportiouately. ' ; Recommendation Only. 1'nder the heading of generai, the pronouncement proeeeds: "It is to be clearly understood that this pronouncement is not in itself a generai wage order and therefore has no operative ell'ci-t. It is merely an indieation of ihe rates of wages up to which the rates prescribed for ' skilled, semiskilled and unskilled workers in a certain number of awards and ' industrial agreeinents, are likely to be brought by means of individual amendments. "The pronouncement does not mean that in'creases in the standard rates will be autoniatically applied to the rates prescribed in all awards and agreements. Regulation 39 C (1) of the tlconomic stabilisation Emergency Regulations makes it abundantly cleai that when the Court amends any award

or agreement for the purpose of givmg effect to a pronoimcement, it must have due regard to any increases in the rates of remuneration of workers affected by such award or agreement granted by the Court since Oetober 1, 1947. - Any amendments made to awards and agreements to give effect to this pronouncement will have no legal effect upon the rates of remuneration of those workers who are already receiving rates in excess of the new rates prescribed in the amendments." Conclusions Summarised. After a lengtliy and detailed analysis of all submissions put before the Court, Ihe following summarised conclusions were reaclied: — \ (A) That the rise in retail priees indicated by index numbers published ; , v the Government Statistician, does not justify any variatiou in the Court 'a standard wage rates. (II) That the econonaic coniiitiond affecting finance, trade and industry in Xew Zealand, are very satisfactory at the moment. (C) That the percentage of nationai income enjoyed by salary and wage j eamers as a class, has probably receded. | (I)) That the Court 's present, stan- ' dard wage rates do not adequutely reflect the enhahced prosperity of the country. (E) That present standard "wage rates are out of balance with minimum i rates now operating- under a large number of awards and agreements. (F) That actual wage rates being paid in industry have advanced since the war by a greater margin than mos of the rates prescribed in awards and agreements. (G) That the time has arrived for a review of the Court 's standard rates.