Wage Reductions.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 February 1923, Page 4

Wage Reductions.

AUSTRALIA’S RECORD. SYDNEY. Feb. 7. In Australia last year nearly 1000 changes in wage rates took place. In this regard the Federal Statistician has made an interesting review. His figures show that in 305 eases increases were granted, and in 00i instances there were decreases. The net result was an all-round decrease of 2.s 7d per head per week in respect of 028.110 employees, and the total not decrease was equal to £70,5t>2 per week. The figures include all changes which have occurred either through the opertions of wage trilinnals or as a result of direct noogtiations between employers and employees. Tn three States there have been genml reductions in the basic wage, which affected all employees working under State awards or agreements. In New South Wales the Hoard of Trade reduc'd the basic wage from £4 2s to £3 18s for males, and from £2 Is to £1 HL Od for females in Queensland (which has a Labor Government! a reduction was made by the Arbitration Court from £4 os tv £4 for males and of 2s per week for females; and m South Vustralia a reduction for males from h ills 0.1 to £3 17s (id was made by the Hoard of Industry. The principle of ouarterlv adiustments adopted by the Federal Arbitration Court led to decreases in wages during the first half of the year, and increases during the hitter half. ... The cost of living in the i ailed kingdom was approximately 10 per cent, lower in October. 1922. than at the cm of T.)°l lint in Australia the cost ol livin.r as measured by the C.nnmouweautli Statistician’s index num.ier increased by about three per cent during the same period.