FIXING WAGES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3506, 3 July 1926, Page 3

FIXING WAGES.

ON WRONG PRINCIPLES. The assertion that the President of the Arbitration Court was unfortunately backing up the go-slow methods of workers in this country wa- made by Mr. Allen Bell in the course of his speech in the House of Representatives * on Thursday. Mr. Bell said there was no hope for the workers of the country while they continued to work under the go-slow principle. The President of the Arbitration .Court failed to recognise that the principal thing to be taken into consideration was payment on the amount produced instead of basing awards wholly on the cost of living. “I know that this statement I am making will be criticised all over the country,” said Mr. Bell, “but that matters not to me.” There was no possible hope of improving the conditions of farm workers in this country whilst the present trades union methods continued in operation. Bankers and others, said Mr. Bell, were continually urging the workers to oxer; me thrift, but what was the good of talking like that to a married man with a family if he was earning about £4 per week? Under the system of payment by results, however, workers would not only have enough money to live on, but enough to spend in those enjoyments to which a rational hum.in being was justly entitled. Mr. P. Fraser: Have you any figures to back that up? Mr. Bell said he knew the statement he was making would probably lie looked upon as heresay by his friends the Labour members. ' Mr. Fraser: No, eccentricity. (Laughter). Mr. Bell concluded by saying the time was coming when the majority would think as he did on the matter.