ARBITRATION AND WAGES

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 104, 30 October 1933, Page 8

ARBITRATION AND WAGES

''Ex-business Man" urges that the Government should suspend the operation of the Arbitration Court for three years because employers cannot in many cases pay award rates of wages and are debarred from employing labour at less—thus increasing unemployment. The writer cites au instance from his own experience:— A youth of about 19 was apprenticed to the drapery business with a large firm. He served two years, and at the expiration that period he was entitled through the union award rate to an increase far above what Ms employers considered reasonable. As a result he was dismissed, through no fault of his own. He pleaded hard to be kept on, but was told by his employer he dare not pay him less than this unreasonable award rate. That was over twelve months ago, and result is that the youth has had to go to a relief camp. This is only typical of what thousands of other youths are at present enduring. No doubt' in the case of skilled labour the result is exactly the same. No doubt thousands of men iiow unemployed would gladly accept work, at the ability of the employer to pay, by mutual agreements and not under compulsion of union awards. There is every possibility that many thousands of men would find employment m^ their own line before six months' time.