THE COST OF LIVING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2568, 17 April 1923, Page 4

THE COST OF LIVING.

INSUFFICIENT TO WARRANT REDUCTIONS. EMPLOYERS MAY APPEAL. Auckland, "Monday, The Arbitration Court’s pronouncement on the cost of living tor the six monthly period ended March, 1923, says that with the exception of rent, which has increased by 4.60 per cent., all groups and sub-groups show decrease of from 2.32 to 4.55 per cent. The percentage over the cost of living in July, 1914, is 56.2. Measured in wages, the decrease in the cost of living is equivalent to a induction of id per hour, or 2/a. week in the male adult wages. The fall in the cost of living is smaller for the last half-year than for the preceding period, which is was 59.6. There has been a tendency, too, in a number of lines toward hardening prices. This will, in all probability, not he permanent, but may he more than merely seasonal. Circumstances lead the Court to the conclusion that if money wages were reduced by 2/per week, the result may he a reduction, not only in money wages, hut also in purchasing power. All this was taken with the fact lhal, in many trades, employers did not find it necessary to put the last reduction in operation and leads to the conclusion that it is unnecessary and undesirable to make a general order reducing money wages for tin 1 ensuing period. Employers may, however, apply on special grounds for a variation of award wages, the applications being considered on their merits.