THE COST OF LIVING

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 32, 2 November 1920, Page 6

THE COST OF LIVING

ANNOUNCEMENT BY ARBITRATION COURT. B* Teleer«:)h—l'roßS Awoolatlon. ChrUtcnurch, November 1. Mr. Justice Stringer, at to-day's sittine of the Arbitration Court, stated that he had received figures from the Gov-, ommetit Statistician concerning the cost' of living, for the six months ended Sop? temuer 30.'> Without divulging the. fig- ' ures, he u'&ild say that these 6hould mean a further substantial increase in tlio cost of living. The Court would make a formal pronouncement later m the present session, The , new bonus woiild date from November.

"ST.OW INCREASE IN WAGES." Tlie Wellington Sloremen's and Packers' Union intends to apply at the next sitting of the Arbitration Court for a new cost-of-living bonus, also a further lwnus to cover tho recent increase m the price of butter. At the last mectiii" of the union the following motion was' carried; "That this meeting vie*". w'itli alarm the' rapid increase m thft cost of living, especially when compttpd with tho slow increase in wages. From : carefully studied figures we contend that since 1911 the cost of living has increased approximately , 122 per- cent., • whilst the wages have only increased on tho average 521 per cent., consequently great hardships, arc beinp imposed upon wage-earners with families.'

THE PAYMENT Or BONUSES. Complaint is made in Labour circles in "Wellington that hesitation is shown by somo employers in paying back pay i on bonuses granted by. the. Arbitration Court; A union official informed aj Dominion reporter yesterday that in several instances lie had. bad to Mftk representations on the point to toe Labour Department, and it was the Department took action-that tl « I rctrospectivo payments were made. iMj : sort of thing ia nicyely 'pni-pricLmcr. , stated the official. "and only tends t» . get the workers' backs UP-