EMPLOYERS’ ATTITUDE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 137, 10 May 1940, Page 2

EMPLOYERS’ ATTITUDE.

clarifying statement. Per Press Association. . WELLINGTON, May 8. . attitude of the'Employers’ and Manufacturers’ Federations to any increase in wages on account of the increased cost of living was explained to-day by Mr W. E. Anderson, secretly Pf the Employers’ Federation. T Referring to remarks made by Mr James Begg at a meeting of the Otago Provincial Council of the Farmers’ Union, Mr Anderson said that the correct position was that, at a conference between representatives .of the Federation of Labour and the Employers’ federation,, at which representatives of the Manufacturers’ Federation were present to watch the interests of their members, it was unanimously agreed to ask. the Government to introduce legislation empowering the Arbitration Court to amend the wages provision of awards and industrial agreements at intervals of not less than six months, the Court, in making such orders, to have regard to the general economic conditions affecting trade and industry in New Zealand, the cost of nving. and any fluctuation in the cost of living since tlic last order, if any, was made. \ .

The legislation was to be a temporary measure for the .duration of the war and six .months thereafter. It would he seen that neither the Employers” nor the Manufacturers’., Federation.had agreed, to anv , increase in. wages to cover cost-of r livirig increases, a, . 1c 1, when the .Arbitration Court was fnven bower to deal with 'applications for suph increases, it was open for the employers, if-they so desired, to oppose them.