AWARD RATES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 August 1940, Page 4

AWARD RATES

VIEWS OF MR J. H. CUNNINGHAM CONCESSION TO FAMILIES. WARRANTED. NEED OF INCREASING PRODUCTION. “I think that the public expected that there would be an increase granted in award rates of wages, and the 5 percent will help to sat isfy those workers who have lodged objections to the Is in the £1 National Security Tax. although the Judge of the Court states that such taxation was not taken into consideration when arriving at his decision, and that the increase was purely' to offset the increased cost of living,” said Mr J. H. Cunningham, geneneral manager of the W.F.C.A. Ltd., this morning. “Few will grudge the extra money for the married man. as it ; s quite evident that commodities have increased during recent months, but whether the same is justified for those without family ties is open to question.” Mr Cunningham added. “Those persons on fixed small incomes deserve sympathy as they will not participate in the general increase in pay, while, on the other hand, the cost of goods (not excluding foodstuffs) has been rising of recent months and will rise still further as a result of the present addition in award rates of pay. “I consider that a revision of the working hours, particularly at a time when production is urgently required to be increased, should be undertaken. Recent advertisements sponsored by the Government ask all to help win the war by working harder and increasing production. Hours in factories should be extended as a war measure, and workers would not object to an extra few hours per week, and which would grant them increased earnings, and the additional hours would, to some extent, offset the increased cost of production which will be inevitable by the present addition tto the award rates. Whilst our export income remains high, the country will be prosperous, but we have been living beyond our means, and difficulties may arise when prices of our primary products fall. Meantime, we should produce more, work harder, and spend more wisely.”