REDUCING STAFFS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20073, 20 October 1939, Page 2

REDUCING STAFFS

O QUESTIONS FOR FIRMS HOURS AND RATES OF PAY POSITIONS FOR TROOPS

■‘ln time of war some classes of business improve and others fall off. It is a natural result of warfare. At present some of us are finding it difficult to retain our entire staff at full rates of pay and for full working time,” commented Mr. C. W. Peppered, president of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, at a recent meeting. .‘‘Either we may have to reduce the number of employees or reduce working hours and cut wages. To do that we would have to secure the permission of the courts. It is time some action was taken by the Government to make provision for the time when such action becomes necessary.

In commenting upon the fact that under the existing awards a firm could not work an employee short time or reduce wages, Mr. Peppered said it was hard for the employers to have to pay full-time wages when the work was not sufficient to keep the staff occupied for the full time. He would not like to see employees penalised unnecessarily, however. “The only remedy,” said Mr. J. T. Shaw, "is to reduce the staff, because trade unions do not seem disposed to agree to reduce wages or ration hours of employment.” Return From Active Service

Some measure of criticism regarding the recent Government regulations compelling firms to hold open positions for soldiers returning from active service was made at the meet-

Mr. Peppered said lie had seen cases where such regulations would work to the detriment of both parties. Every employer wanted as many good men as he could secure on,his staff. Should a man be incompetent and enlist to prevent being dismissed, it would be hard on the employer to have to reengage him on his completion of active service.

Some revision of the regulations was urged by 'Mr. Peppered. He considered it was not in the best interests of commerce generally to have to retain a man who did not prove an efficient employee. In reply to Mr. G. S. Anchor, who considered the time to consider the re-employment of soldiers was when the troops came home, Mr. Peppered said some of them may start returning within 12 months. It was decided to defer the subject until the first meeting of the chamber next year.