THE COST OF LIVING

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 156, 27 March 1920, Page 6

THE COST OF LIVING

PRINCIPLE OF ADJUSTING WAGES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, March 26. The problem of meeting the increasing cost of living was further discussed; at' the Arbitration Court this morning during au application from the Auckland Coachworkers' Union for a new award embodying an increase in wages, in the course of which the extent to which prices had risen since January last was . raised as an argument. M\r. Martin, who appeared for the. union, pointed out that the latpst figures issued bv the Government Statistician wDiv ill February last, and after consult- _ ing the lotail figures he found that the figures issued were gathered 011 January 15. Between that period and up to the present time there,'had been a very considerable increase in the cost of household necessaries. He quoted a list of present-day prices in comparison with those issued by the Statistician, showing,,roughly, an a'verage increase approaching 23 per cent. His Honour said the Court had given a bonus of Id. per liou'r, which covered the worker? up to the period of last September. Admittedly, things had gone up since then, but if tliq, Court assessed the wage now upon-the basis of the present cost of living, what would be its position when, in April next, a review won d be made of the last six-monthly period ? How was the Court to adjust this, if an attempt were made to give the applicants a prooortionate increase at the present stage?" AYould it not bejnore reasonable to "leave matters as they' stood ? Then, when the six-monthly review from the Government Statistician was available, the matter could be adjusted, otherwise, the Court would lie at "sixes and sevens" One of the obiects in fixing two periods was that the Government Statis- . ticion considered them to be -the fairest for the purpose of a review, because in some' months priccs_ fluctuate considerably as compared with others. _ t Mr. Martin said the position mignt arise that the union would be told that they had got a new award in March, .and yet here they were applying for an , extra bonus. /■ ' His Honour replied that the bonus, . whop it n\i»e out, would apply to th'.s award. If Air. Martin's suggestion were carried out, tliey might hart unions coming forward at three, four, or jive months after tlie last six-monthly period. There would ,bc one increase one month and another in the following month. \ six-monthly neriort was fixed so that ' there would bo no adjustments made 111 the intermediate periods. • Air. Scott remarked that he had gone ' into the matter in' Wellington, and it would probably .be found tllat next April there would be an increase of about 10 per. cent., which would work oirt :it -d. per how.