HIGH WAGES PAID BY AMERICANS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 16, 14 October 1943, Page 4

HIGH WAGES PAID BY AMERICANS

Effect On Labour Position Dominion Special Service. AUCKLAND, October 13. Following representations made to official quarters, it is expected that a conference will be held this week to review tlie wages paid by the 2fmerican authorities in Auckland. Officers of the Labour Department, the Waterfront Control Commission, and the Federation of Labour are expected to arrive fpom Wellington mid it is probable that they will meet (lie American authorities tomorrow. For some time the effect of the high wages paid to casual workers in United States stores in Auckland has been felt in Ihe older established businesses. The ordinary award wages for labourers, and for some skilled tradesmen, are not sufficient lo induce many men to ignore the attractions of work on the waterfront and iu United States stores around Auckland. The result lias been that hundreds of complaints of absenteeism and failure to comply with tlie man-power officer’s directions have been received from many Auckland employers. In some occupations the labour position was extremely difficult more than 12 months ago, and tlie employers state that, instead of an improvement, the trouble has been aggravated. What is commonly known as “working tor the lYmericnns” has been blamed by many as the chief cause of employers’ inability to keep men on their essential work. It is not known what proposals will be brought forward at the conference, apart from the fact that they will affect wages. When approached yesterday the nuuipowcr division of the National Service Department had no information to offer on tlie subject. Suggestions have often been made that, (lie American rates of pay should be brought more into line witli New Zealand industries, and it is likely that the discussion will proceed along_those.. lines. , t