WAGES AND COST OF LIVING.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17420, 3 April 1922, Page 6

WAGES AND COST OF LIVING.

OBSERVATIONS BY THE COURT. "When the Manawatu Butchers' Union's dispute was called at the sitting of the Arbitration Court at Palmorston iS T orth. on Friday, Mr "YV. McKenzie, who appeared for the employem, asked Une Court to reserve decision until it had made its pronouncement concerning wages generally. Mr Justice Frazer replied that the fact that it was the Court's intention to make a pronouncement shortly could not affect present proceedings The pronouncement, ho explained, would apply equally to all new awards, and would be made on a. current period from which the cost of living standard was being ascertained. At the end oi' the prevailing period the standard would cither Siavc increased., or decreased. It was ziot a. logical assumption that awards made after the pronouncement would not be brought into line, it would make no difference whether awards were made new or in a month's iime; they would have a relation to the standard which prevailed during the set period. "We are trying to work out a reasonable policy," said his Honour. "If we were "to hold up awards the position would be a rather difficult one. "We would have to shut up shop altogether. It i 6 not a question of fixing wages on the cost of living to-day. Officially, we don't know anything about the cost of living to-day; but we do know everything about the cost of living for the current period."