REDUCTION IN WAGES.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 November 1922, Page 3

REDUCTION IN WAGES.

ARBITRATION COURT’S LATMST DECISION. (by telegraph---per. press association" DUNEDIN, Nov 22. ‘Tho Arbitration Court’s pronouncement with regard to the general order based on the movement in the cost of living for the half year ended September 30th., 1922 has been made available. The pronouncement is as follows: ‘•The Court made an interim pronouncement on October oth last in which it was stated that a statistical investigation of the movement in the cost of living for six months ended September 30th., 1922, disclosed a fall that, measured in wages, would represent a reduction of 3s per week in the male adult wages, Is 6d per week in the adult female wages and Is in the wage of juniors. The Court held a special sitting at Wellington on November Kith., and heard the representatives of the employers and of the workers on tho question of whether a general order should he made in the terms of the statistical finding referred to. The employers did not ask for a reduction greater than that disclosed !,... tho wist of living figures, and the workers asked that no reduction should 1,0 made. and. that an increase should he granted. Ihe Court Las now decided to make a general order, reducing the rates of remuneration pavahle under the several awards mid industrial agreements now m force hv 3s per week in the cast of adult males; Is (id per week in the case of adult females; and Is per week in the case of juniors.

“Y\'e 'have made two exceptions to the general rule. One is in case of apprentices receiving bis, 20s. • and 40s per week respectively in then first second. third, fourth and hlth years Their rates are regarded as standard rates. The other exception is in the case of female employees in tea rooms and restauarnnts, other tln.i the members of kitchen stalls and m the t'w of journey women in the tra«o& who received at present not more than £•> ->s (ill per week. This exception is made because of high room rents still ( barged to these workers. House rents have increased s 'ghtly during the past six months iindt increase lias been allowed for bv us m the computation of the general cost n r Lying but room rents appaai to have increased to a greater extent and these account fora large portion ol tin expenditure of workers m question.