WAGES AND UNEMPLOYMENT.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17115, 9 April 1921, Page 8

WAGES AND UNEMPLOYMENT.

AN INVERCAEGILL RESOLUTION. (SPECIAL TO "THE I'KESS.") IXVERCARGILL, April 8. At its monthly meeting to-day, tho Invercargill Chamber of Commerce discussed the joint question of wages and unemployment, some rather gloomy predictions as to the outlook in regard to the latter occurring in the course of tho discussion. The discussion arose out of a member remarking that the Arbitiation Court was still granting rises in wages. The chairman (Mr A. H. Mackroll) 6aid that he understood from a pronouncement by the Court that a further bonus of 2s would bo declared within a few days. This would cause trouble throughout the country, < and would speed the coming of unemployment. It was absurd for the Court to go on increasing the basic wage under the present circumstances. Tho Court was evidently a few months behind the times. Mr J. Gilkison. remarked that firms had fti ( regulate their expenditure by their income, and it seemed they wouldhave to decide whether to reduce hands or reduce wages. Tho purchasing power of tho farmers was being reduced enormously, and a great deal of unemployment during the winter seemed inevitable. Tho meeting carried the following motion: "That the action of the Arbitration Court in continuing to increase wages in view of the reductions in tho value of produce,.and the decreased purchasing power of the farming community, coupled with the decreased cost of clothing, etc., will, in our opinion, have the effect of creating serious unemployment." It was decided to remit the resolution to the Employers' Association for support. .