EMPLOYERS GIVE WARNING.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 September 1921, Page 5

EMPLOYERS GIVE WARNING.

INCREASED WAGES WILL MEAN UNEMPLOYMENT.

STATEMENT IN ARBITRATION COURT.

Wellington, September 2.

That the granting of further increases in wages to workers will result in unemployment was the view expressed by Mr. ,W. A. W. Grenfell, advocate for the employers, when addressing the Arbitration Court in the ship assistants’ dispute. After quoting the Court’s own pronouncement on the stabilisation question, Mr. Grenfell said: On the strength of the Court’s decision to stabilise wages, and on the Court’s repeatedly expressed opinions as quoted, the employers of the Dominion were aa<vised to give the fullest effect possible to the Court’s scheme. This they have loyally endeavored to do, by retaining the services of employees in the hope of better times, although present business did not warrant their doing so. In the light of the Court’s utterances, and in view of the recognised unsatisfactory state of the trade, of the financial difficulties of people, and of increasing unemployment throughout the country, I say with all seriousness that the Court will be inconsistent, and will do grievous wrong to many workers, and an injustice to the employers, if at this time it grants any increase in wages. I can assure the Court that in many establishments workers are being retained whose services could be dispensed with. There is no shadow of doubt that, as the Court says, the granting of any increase would tax these businesses beyond breaking point. That would mean drastic' readjustment of staffs, and consequent dismissal of numbers of hands. I am convinced, and respectfully warn the Court, that that will be the inevitable result of any wage increase.