EFFECTS OF COST-OF-LIVING BONUS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 48, 20 November 1920, Page 8

EFFECTS OF COST-OF-LIVING BONUS

JUDGE'S ADVICE 'l'O UNIONISTS. By TelacraDh—Press Amoclitlon. Wanganui, November 19. . Before the Arbitration Court, evidence produced to-day showed that in some trades at least the limit where increases in washes could be passed on to tho pub-, iic was being reached, and the breaking-, point would soon be reached if- conditions remained unchanged.' The discussion arose during the hearing of 'an application for the 9s. cost-of-liv-ing bonus from private hotel and boardinghouse employees, and also the licensed hotel emplovees. The Licensed Victuallers' Associativa emphatically protested against the' bonus, contending, that the burden of-the cost of living pressed heavily qii hotelkeepero, and the limit had nearly been reached; ' The position' of private hotelkeepers' ivho catered lor .working men* was'''almost'impossible, .as they could not raise the tariff to meet the increase. It' was contended that, the cost of living did not, affect employees, and that it was an absurd anomaly that, 'an employer who had to pay the increased price' of ■.'bread'and'butter had also to pas, a corresponding increase: to tlio employee, to whom tho* bread and butter was given.- A .somewhat:.similar state of' affairs r was 'stated to prevail iu regard to the bakers and pastrycooks trade. ; Unless relief were given sgnie firms would have, to go out-of business, ' The union representative stated that,' in view of tho .whole riuestioii of the Ijoiius being discussed at Wellington, "he would refrain, from'commenting. His Honour remarked that apparently, when; charges'could'be' passed on to the public, there was no; difficulty,: but a stage, ultimately, would be reached when it would be.difficult to carry on business any longer, ai'id .unemployment .would result. He hoped the -unionists would consider tlie question carefully, and. see that tliey. did' not kill tlie goose which laid the golden egg.

TAILOHESSES WANT HIGHER BONUS, . ... . By ToleEravli—Press' Association. Christchurch, November 19. Tho secretary of the- • Christchurch Dross and Mantle Makers' Union has sent tlie following letter to Mr. J. M'Cullongii, tho workers' representative, on the Arbitration Court:— "In view of the hostility shown by, the Employers' Federation towards the action of tho Arbitration Court in grant-, ing a cost-of-living bonus of 9s. per week, and in view of the action of several firms in the tailoring trade who. .lmve consequent on tho granting, ot tno bonus dismissed several of their work■ers, alleging as a- reason that wages are already too high, plainly an . attempt at intimidation, the 'l'ailoresscs, p utt ® rs > lind Pressors' Union draws the attention of tho Arbitration Court to the totallyinadequate wages paid in the industry, protests strongly, against a reduction in the amount of the bonus and wages, and urges that it bo increased to such an evtent as will bring, it into conformitywith, the cost of living, as shown by the. Government Statisticianin' tho latest abstract 4 or' statistics 1 . Following aro. tho wages paid, qiul they are lower than, tlioso in any other section of the industry :-Chnrt cutter, JC3 17s. per week, plus 10s. bonus; stock cutter and pressor, '■£3 .13». -Id.- per week, plus 10s.bonus; tailoressos, 15b. per week, plus ,ss. bonus.' Above 50 per cent, of the girls arc apprentices and improvers, and ore paid considerably less thaii-'the XI 15s. •