HIGHER PRODUCTION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 135, 8 May 1940, Page 9

HIGHER PRODUCTION

IMPORTANCE STRESSED. •EFFECTS OF HIGH WAGES. 'll eference to the important announcement which it was reported the i Minister of Labour (Hon. P. C. Webb) j would be making this week on the . bearing of the cost of living on wage ; rates was made' by Mr M. H. Oram < at the meeting of the Palmerston i North Chamber of Commerce last evening. “When will it be realised that you i cannot increases', wages and not in- i crease production without doing serious damage to the national economy?” stated Mr Oram. ‘T am not opposed to higfi wages, but it is colossal folly to think that any benefit will accrue without also higher production. Higher wages megn a higher cost of living, and that means a further in- : crease in wages. The thing never ends. Actual production or the unit of work has decreased during the high wage period.”'l’he speaker drew attention to the scheme introduced in his business by Mr H. Valder, of Hamilton, who recently made a fine donation to Victoria University College for research concerning labour problems in industry. Mr Valder had issued labour shares in lps business with a view not only to increasing production but also the emoluments of labour as well. It was an endeavour to do something, and there was no doubt the present policy of drift must be stopped. If costs wore reduced not only would higher sales result, but it would be possible to pay higher wages U those in the labour side of industry could see that, they would benefit themselves as well as their employers. ■ Mr 11. G. Mills expressed the opinion that production must be increased as imports from overseas should not be maintained by borrowing If all persons, emnloyer and employed, put their just share into industry production could be increased. A resolution was passed for submission to the Associated Chambers expressing the view that it , was folly to increase wages unless primary and secondary production was also increased.