INCREASE IN WAGES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 246, 16 September 1940, Page 8

INCREASE IN WAGES.

COURT AWARD DISCUSSION. HOSPITAL BOARD’S VIEW. Asked by the Hospitals’ -Association for an expression of opinion as to the application of the recent five per cent, increase in the wages of workers under awards, the Palmerston North Hospital Board to-day decided to recommend that the increase be paid to all -employees, but not on any part of a salary over and above £350. The actual decision of the board as to the action it will take is to he made later When the Hospital Boards’ Association brings down a recommendation. The chairman (Mr J. A. Nash) said that if the five per cent, increase was to be paid for a specific purpose—the higher cost of living, and not to offset the five per cent, national security tax—then it should be paid to all. Personally, he felt that we were living in very prosperous times. Mr F. J. Ryder: There is no doubt about that. Proceeding, the chairman said that, we were now getting satisfactory prices for our primary produce, but these prices might be less, with a resultant reverse to New Zealand, when the war was over.

Mr A. E. Hansford: We might have a reverse before then.

The chairman thought that we had to assume tliat pur. produce would be sold while the war continued. There would possibly have to be a change at some time in the future, bringing a reduction in wages. Those. who would now have increases would therefore be bettei off (if there were a" reduction in the future) than the man who did not now have the increase. The higher salaried officers would have no benefit now and would have to share in any reduction. Mr C. P. Jensen said the Horowhenua. County Council had made the limit £350.

Mr Ma.nfiford emphasised that overshadowing everything was the war, and the board had to examine any proposals in the light of their repercussions on the war effort, in production or in other avenues. Further, decisions should not be allowed to engender any dissatisfaction among employees. If Hitler, by any small chance, should happen to win the war, their increases in wages would mean nothing. All efforts had to be directed to winning the war. The speaker understood that a conference of all local bodies had been mooted so that a common basis of action could be recommended. The chairman said the Dunedin City Council had granted the increase to all employees, and Mr Man6ford commented that if some local bodies had “run wild” then they might have to be brought up with a -round turn. What if the local bodies gave increases to all and the Government did not? Mr W. Howell suggested that the increase he granted to all employees up to a limit of £350 and he moved this as a motion, Mr Ryder seconding it. Mr J. Boyce said that on all sides one saw demands for increased wages, 'yet the basic primary industries did not enjoy"increased incomes. Half the workers were doing less work than they were ten years ago and the country was heading for dmaster—less work and higher wages The emplover now paid the five per cent, national securitv tax. 'Mr J- Hodgens, M.P., said the five per cent, was granted to cover the increase in the cost of living between 1937 and 1939 and not. anything in 1940. . Mr Howell pointed out that if the increase were paid to employees earnine £340 and nor to those earning £350. the £340 salarv would become greater than the £350 one. The motion was passed without dissent and it was pointed out that increases in salaries at the Palmerston North Hospital, when they were made, would he retrospective.