FEW DISMISSALS

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19904, 5 June 1936, Page 4

FEW DISMISSALS

FEAR OF INCREASED COSTS

} LITTLI SUPPORT FOR RUMOURS. I ‘ Although there have been many rumours. some pointing at particular lilrms, ihnt enmlnyers are reducins‘ their staffs in anticipation of increased labour i‘FIhlS unzlcr the Governmeniis new industrial legislation. an investi—gation has shown that there are few cases of reduction, says at Christchurch paper. Enquiries were made among principals both of the employers and employees. representing large city industries. Complaints from individuals dismissed have recently been received by trades union secretaries, but. ithese do not indie-ate extensive dismi‘ssals. In one case, however. it was understood by n runion secretary that a. firm had dismissed a number of girls. heint.r influenced. in its action by the new legislation. Mr F, )I. Robson. secretary of the Boot Operatives" Union. stated that he had been informed that one of the largest boot and shoe manufacturing firms had put off 20 girls in the last few weeks. This him. he said. had formerly taken on a number of girls at 105 a week, and it was now dismissing those who had been at work for, say, three years, taking on new employees at the new rate. Though this had 'been a practice in the past it, seemed to have been accelerated lately. The case would probably be communciated te the Minister for Labour. Imputa‘tlon Denied. When Mr Robson's statement was referred to the firm (which was vspecifled by him) it was stated that 10 girls only had been paid oil’ out of a total of aproximately 150 employees. 01 these, at least three had been on trial and had proved unsatisfactory. Any girls who showed promise, irrespective of increases of wages due to them under the new legislation. were being kept on—in fact, the firm could not afford to lose them as there was a shortage of labour.

A list showing the extra wages which would have to be paid to each employeq under {Elle new scales had been prepared by the firm. In one department alone the list showed that increases of from 105 to 155 a week would have to .be paid to H girls. One girl, whose wages would have [0 be increased from £1 to £2 a week, was being retained. .\l‘oreover, it was stated. the firm had definitely finished its " pruning."

Mr J. S. Barnett, who is watching the interests of several 0f the unions. said recently that. ‘he had reeeirerl complaints from two men who had been dismissed by a manufacturing ‘flrm. ‘He had interviewed the firm and ‘had been told that the rates of pay under the new award had made the lcontinued employment of the two men impossible. He had also been told ‘that the firm would be reviewing its staff shortly. No Reduction In Staff. Enquiries of this firm, which was also specified, brought an assurancv that no reductions of staff were conv templated. There was no fear. at least for the present, of increased costs. It was expected that the (Bovernment would realise the necessity of allowing a slight rise in prices. Persistent rumours that certain 01' the larger retailers have reduced staffs could not be verified. The unions concerned had no knowledge of such reductions.