Nauruans Want
p. 18 · Read in the full issue
Their Wages
Doubled
The Nauruans in May askei that the basic wage on the islam be almost doubled.
THEY made their request to th Administration through a specis arbitration agent supplied to them b the Australian Council of Trad Unions. The advocate, Mr. W. A Baker, BEc, visited Nauru to conduc the Nauruans’ case before a Commi* sioner appointed to enquire into th basic wage, Mr. W. Wilson.
The Administration was reporte to be “not very happy” that th Nauruans had brought the ACT into the enquiry. The Naurua Workers’ Organisation, which mad the request to the ACTU for help, i not affiliated with the ACTU. l| Australian Seamen’s Union wa anxious that the ACTU offer assisl ance.
The Nauruan basic wage applies t all Nauruans employed by the Ad ministration on Nauru. However,! is generally accepted as the basi wage for all workers on Nauru, ex cepting the phosphate labourers, wb are Chinese and Gilbert and Ellio Islanders. About 120 Nauruans wor for the British Phosphate Commis sion on various jobs, mostly skilled.
The basic wage was established! 1953, by Mr. Wilson, at £4/11/1 week. Adjustments have sine brought it to its present £6/4/?! week, plus 13/8 dependant’s allow ance for each child under 16.
The Nauruan Workers’ Organisa tion asked for a new basic wage o £ll/4/7 a week, plus a dependant’ allowance of 30/- a week for th third and subsequent children.
Mr. Baker asked the Commissione to agree that the wage be review© again in another three years. He sal the Nauruan Workers’ Organisation would in the next review ask fo “nothing less than European wag standards”.
The Commissioner agreed to th review but reserved his decision o the wage. His report will now go t the Minister for Territories, Mi Hasluck.
• Unexpected Death: Mi
J. E. Willoughby, First Assistaj Secretary of the Department of Terri tories, died suddenly in Canberra i June. (See p. 166).