INCREASE IN THE BASIC WAGE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 183, 29 April 1920, Page 4

INCREASE IN THE BASIC WAGE

AND IN "COST OF LIVING" BONUS. ARBITRATION COURT DECISION. By Telegraph—ProHs Association. Gisborne, April 27. Mr. Justice Stringer delivered nil important judgment in the Arbitration Court at .Gisborne yesterday. In April, 1910. the Court fixed the basic wage for skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled workers, to which was added a bonus of 2}d. per hour to compensate workers for the increased co~t of living up to Mnrch 31, If)!!), and intimated that the bonus would be adjusted as on September 30 mid March 31 in each ye,ir. In December last the Government Statistician reported that it would bo necessary to increase the bonus by a penny per hour to hourly workers, and four shillings per week to weekly workers. This additional bonus was accordingly granted, nnd made payable from January 1 last. The Court has now received a report from the Government Statistician, in which he states that for the six-monthly period ending March, 1920, a further increase ,of lid. per hour to hourly workers and 6s. per week to weekly workers is required in order to compensate for a further increase in the cost of living, tineluding clothing. The Court, therefore, will grant the bonuses recommended upon applications being made from time to time as opportunity oilers. These bonuses will lie made payable as from May 1 next, unless good cause is shown to the contrary. The cases of juniors will bo dealt with according to their merits. Several industries have, by agreement with the workers, raised the basic wages above those fixed by the Court. The Court has determined to increase, tho basic wages to workers generally, as follows:—Skilled workers, 2s. per h?ur: semi-skilled, Is. Bd. to Is. lOd.; unskilled, Is. 7d. To these basic wages will be added n honus of 3d. per hour, which is> intended to cover the increased cost of living to March 31. 1020. In making awards after the present date, tjje C°urt f except for a special reason, will fix the minimum rates in accordance with the above statement. Overtime rates will be fixed on the basic wage only, exclu* ive of bbnus.