SALESMEN'S EARNINGS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 58, 1 December 1937, Page 6

SALESMEN'S EARNINGS

Legislation To Be Extended GOVERNMENT'S INTENTIONS "Tbe Government bas had "under eonslderation a furtber amendment and extension of tbe industrial arbitrajtiou law to bring in all commission agents and commercial travellers," said tbe Minister of Labour, tbe Hon. H. T. Armstrong, wben asked by Tbe Standard, tbe official Labour newspaper, it any action was to be taken to ameliorate tbe position of men engaged on commission only to sell insurance, wasbing machines, radio sets, motorcsts, and otber goods and-services. . Representations bad been made to Jiim, he said, on bebalf of all types .of eommission agents tbat tbey ougbt to xeceive a guaranteed " minimum wage or ealary as otber workers did. "••Unless a wage is paid," tbe Minister pointed out, "tbere is no relationsbip of 'master and servant,7 and agents tberefore have no standing in arbitration law. Tbat means tbat tbey cannot form, and operate a legal baTgaining organisation witb their eraployere. ' ' Tbe protlem o£ administration of tbe law made it i.ecessary to move cantiously, Mr Armstrong added. As Minister of LaTxrar, be bad given legal rights last year to many classes of workere who bad never before enjoyed them, and witbin recent weeks a furtber extenslon. had been made to tbe employees of cbartered and • sporting clubs. "Tbe nest step," said Mr Armstrong, "will be to complete tbe job by eonferring industrial status and rigbts on commission agents. I doubt' wbetber it will be possible to complete consideration of tbe problem and final-" ise legislation before tbe Cbristmas recf f s; but it will ee*ta:nly be done nest year."