EMPLOYERS’ BURDEN

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 455, 24 June 1937, Page 2

EMPLOYERS’ BURDEN

‘‘LIMIT HAS BEEN REACHED” L Chamber Of Commerce Opinion Press Association —Copyright. Hastingss, June 23. ‘‘Employers in New Zealand have ! loyally carried out the provisions of | the legislation laid down by the prej sent Government and have stood up ’ to the strain of taxation and over- | head costs, but the limit has been reached, and it is hoped the Government will recognise this,” said Mr. j H. W. C. Baird, president of the Hast- : ingc Chamber of Commerce, when rei viewing conditions during the past I at the annual meeting of the chami ber. It would be necessary for the ■ Government to look carefully into i awards and note the conditions and I the help being given by those awards j to swell the ranks of the unemployj ed, he said. * “We find union secretaries de- ’ manding all sorts of ridiculous c-on-I ditions and getting away with it in

! some’ cases,” said Mr. Baird. “The ; increase of wages, in some cases was ; justified ( but to make these increases ' retrospective, going back for months, i miade a tax on capital and prevented ■ employers making provision for in- ■ creasing their activities, particularly |in sheltered industries. The whole !of the distribution of goods is a ! sheltered industry for employees, as • irrespective of conditions the employ- ! ee-s receive their weekly wage. In ■the distribution class employees i work 44 hours, but if an employer , wishes to start his juniors at 8.30 ! a.m. he has to give then an hour | an a-half for lunch to keep under the ; 44-hour week. With regard to wag- • es, under the Wellington award if a ; female assistant wishes to -start in a I shop without previous experience- at I the age. of 22 years, she has to be i Paid £2/7/6 a week, and it she is ■ 23, £2/12/6. Males would hhve to ; receive £4/5/0 and £4/15/0. Where I is the employer who can pay wages | for beginners at these rates? j “Our chamber caused a. slight stir |in criticising the housing scheme,” j said Mr. Baird. “It wla.e quite ap--1 parent that the Government could I not erect houses to rent at rates , equal to one day’s pay of the work- | ing man. One pound a week is quoti ed as the lowest rental, and that is I for a three-roomed flat. This seems ! to be catering for a couple j family; rather extraordinary, when i one considers the outcry at the prej sent time for increased population.”-