COST OF LIVING

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 189, 7 May 1940, Page 6

COST OF LIVING

Bearing On Wage Rates In New Zealand STATEMENT EXPECTED (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 6. An important announcement on the bearing of tlie cost of living on wage rates in the Dominion is expected to be made this week by the Miister of Labour, Mr. Webb. A statement to this effect was made today by the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser. It was reported last week that, arising out of an application by the Federation of Labour to the Court of Arbitration for a fixture for hearing a general case for wage increases, in which the Court would be asked to make an order for an immediate and simultaneous increase in all award wages to meet the increased cost of living, a conference between employers’ and manufacturers’ representatives and the federation was held in Wellington. The decision of the conference was that representation be made to the Government to introduce legislation empowering the Court to amend the wage provisions of awards, taking into consideration the cost of living and economic circumstances generally, such amendments to be reviewed at not less than six-monthly periods. When this report was submitted to

the Prime Minister on his arrival at Auckland, he indicated that a Ministerial statement would be issued this week by Mr. Webb.