GAME OF TAIL-CHASING

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 44, 16 November 1920, Page 7

GAME OF TAIL-CHASING

COST-OF-LIVING BONUS AND WAGES ".Local bodies are right up against it," said a member of tlie City Council yesterday, when referring to the new cost-of-living bonus announced by (lie Arbitration Court. He pointed out that, having struck the rates for the current year, the councils have, no means (except by swelling tho overdraft, if that were permitted) of raisin?; tlie money to pay the increased wastes. Tho councillor said that ho had 'been carefully into the matter, and had estimated that tho 9s. bonus would, in tlie case of the City Corporation, mean extra expendituro to tho amount of about .£20,000 por annum. It was estimated that ,£15,000 4>er annum would bo needed for tramway employees alone, then there wore ahout 500 men comieoted with tho general fiorvicea, 50 in the electric light department, and about the samo number connected with tho milk department. "This sort of tailchasing," he said, "is no good, as it will benefit no one. Thu extra money reojiired to pay tradesmen, ajid labourers elite will havo to come out of their own pockets in tho end, {Trough othor increases. The increases will be noted by the Statistician, wlio will pass l<i« information on to the Arbitration Court, and another bonus will bo granted, witli Iho same woarving, harassing result. Whore is it to end? .Possibly it will all end suddonlv in a way most peoplo will not like, and wagoß will ilop, with a collapsed market."