INCREASED WAGES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 244, 12 September 1940, Page 8

INCREASED WAGES

PRODUCTION HINDERED. PROTEST BY FARMERS. Prompted by a remit from the Linton committee, protesting at the recent general order of the Arbitration Court increasing award wages by 5 per cent., a discussion on tlie matter arose at a meeting of the District Primary Production Council to-day.

Mr B. E. iveilJcr considered the conncil should emphatically protest at the increase in award wages. All farmers had a fixed price lor their produce based on a scale of wages considerably lower than they were to-day, he said It seemed to him to be absolutely wrong that costs should be pushed up while the farmers’ price remained fixed. especially at a time such as the present. The Government was asking for increased production and when the farmers responded their effort was hindered by the Arbitration Court. At such a time costs should be strictly controlled.

Mr J. Linklater, who presided, said there was no doubt that the 5 per cent, increase was reacting throughout the country. In the dairy factory with which he was concerned transport costs had risen immediately. Mr E. 0. Bond said the Farmers’ Union had taken up the attitude that it was useless to protest against the latest increase in wages, but that it should be impressed on the Government that no further increases should be made. If costs were stabilised in one direction they should be stabilised in every way. The increase in wages had been nullified by the higher price of meat. He would like to know who was getting the benefit for the higher price for meat—the farmer certainly was not.

After further discussion, on the motion of Air Keiller it was decided to protest to the National Council of Primary Production against the continual rises in wages and other costs as being detrimental to the Government's request for increased production.