WAGES REDUCTION

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1930, Page 2

WAGES REDUCTION

(Australian PreM Association)

SYDNEY, September $S

In order to aid their relief pians, the New South Wales Government have applied to the Federal Arbitration Court for the suspension of the Federal awards covering the buildere, the labourers, the' carpenter’s, and tlie joiners. - •• • ' v Judge Beeby, describing the matter ns l one of/ extreme importance, nouneed that he would give siou next; week. . CUTS FOR CAPITAL. WELLINGTON, September 26, Strong resentment was expressed af a.meeting of the Trades Council, last night at the proposal made 'by employers to thfe 1 Acting Prime Minister, that legislation should be iii-r troduced to give the Arbitration Court ‘power 'to reduce .wages by general order. A resolution was carried to. this effect.

It added that the council was fully, tiivt to the hardship which had befallen ' the primary producer, due to the ahntp fall in value df;- product* in the World markets; ThpVfedudtmn in wages of workers who eve. underawards of, the Court, .would however, not afford the primary producer any relief, arid - his diffioulties . are used-by the, Employers’:; an excuse to reduce wags. If Veal. ■ relief must be found, attention must be directed to very serious over capitalisation in industries, and the writing down of value, 1 which were written up, while high prices for our primary products were obtaining, would go much further in the.'direction -of relief. This should certainly precede any reduction in wages of workers, who by such reduction would be,less able to assist the primary producers in local markets. ( .v