Bay Of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1948

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 9, 18 October 1948, Page 4

Bay Of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1948

LIVING COSTS Once more the Federation Of Labour is pressing for an increase in wages as affecting certain unions. The object of improving the wage earner’s position is to be commended. But just where will it get him? Will not prices follow and outstrip wages again? Will not climbing costs outweigh any pay increase? How much sounier it would be if the problem were approached from the angle of procuring a reduction in the cost of securing those essentials upon which wages are spent. Let us consider the cost of the articles the worker buys in terms of the hours he must work to be able to buy them. Comparison between America and New Zealand, as given in “N.Z. Commerce,” official journal of the N.Z. Associated Chambers of Commerce, is interesting. To show this country in the most favourable light possible, we will take the average wage rate at 4/- per hour, which is high. In making the comparison, it should also be remembered that in New Zealand we have price controls; in America th,ere are none. The following few items’show just how long it takes to earn certain articles in this country and in the United States: Pair double sheets, 15 hours 45 minutes in New Zealand, 4 hours

23 minutes in U.S.A.I bath towel, 2 hours 15 minutes, 31 minutes; 20 cigarettes, 27 minutes, 7 minutes; shirt, 6 hours 15 minutes, 3 hours 4 minutes; woman’s house frock, 10 hours 30 minutes, 3 hours 9 minutes; woman’s wool cardigan, 11 hours 15 minutes, 3 hours 6 minutes; woman’s shoes 11 hours 15 minntes, 5 hours 9 minutes; men’s shoes, 10 hours, 6 hours 20 minutes. Those are just a few figures. A while list could be quoted. But do not those shown here indicate that there is something wrong with the claim' we frequently hear that this country has the highest standard of living in the world? We haven’t. And we might as well face the fact. But the answer is not in repeated demands for higher wages, which are immediately reflected in higher costs. Something must be done to increase the volume of goods that a/worker’s wages will buy. " It would appear from the foregoing figures that the United States worker, under a system of unbridled private enterprise, is a good deal better off than his New Zealand counterpart under planned economy. Where lies the fault? Is it that our system of control is not rigid enough so far as costs are concerned? Or is it that controls themselves cost too much? * ■