PROTEST BY UNIONS

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21361, 4 March 1941, Page 4

PROTEST BY UNIONS

EXTRA HOUR'S WORK LETTERS FROM MINISTERS (By Telegraph.—Press Association) AUCKLAND, Tuesday A proposal made to its staff by the Auckland Electric-Power Board last December, that the money earned irom working an extra hour a week should be donated to patriotic funds, with a subsidy from the board, was discussed by the board yesterday. Although a large number of employees petitioned the board previously to proceed with the scheme, it was abandoned as the result of opposition from unions concerned, who alleged that coercion and intimidation had been used to get the employees to co-operate. A letter was received from the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, giving opinions on the scheme. It stated the Minister of Finance was of the opinion that if the board decided to donate the money the question of taxation did not arise. If the employees decided to work the extra hour and assist the war effort to the extent that the revenue of the board was increased, then no income was derived by the men, and so taxation would not be levied on them.

The opinion of the Minister of Labour was also given. He stated he would be prepared to instruct his department that it should not intervene if the proposal was agreed to by the employees and the various unions. There would not appear to be any difficulty in promulgating the scheme from the financial viewpoint, concluded Mr Armstrong. The labour aspect should therefore be taken up with the workers and the unions direct.

It was decided to send a copy of the Minister’s letter to the secretaries of the unions concerned.