WAGES REDUCED FIVE SHILLINGS

Otaki Mail, 10 May 1922, Page 4

WAGES REDUCED FIVE SHILLINGS

) 1 AGBI'iHATIO.N LOLlt'l Pl-IONOLaC.E- j ! MKNT. ! 1 Auckland. May I iiie .-ii iii.: aio.-n L.ourl completed iis | pronouncement regal umg the Cost ol j dviiig holms hole to-mgiit. liie L-ourt decided to ,c,im.-e tne eucuieiaitdit ol adult mail-, in o’ weekly, of adult females by -.5, and o: juniors by t o. A genera! .order, operative from ’ May 15, u>i ism d. Tlie Gourl bolds dial • c. qdo.. cis' arguments m suppon ol . c.action ol 13 arc udlacious. Like:; ii cttimot uphold liie workers’ uppo. o ion lo a reduction in wages. Hie Cmn; . ...ui die miunctii 1 t ondi!ions a, • c trade and hidue;ry in New Zealand througii liie -aii in prices oi exports. It stresses die necessity tor improved efficiency in production, and says the truth must i -, t . gi.n ed that the interests oi employer and worker are iJcmigai in -he matter of meeting competition, and in order jo mec-t competition and liiiiulaie trade, a reduction in prodin;ion costs is essential, if would. : he Court believes, be beneflcitl if wages were m drop to weekly, but a reduedon of that- amount would involve a reduction below the cost oi living level, .which, though ii would probably be only temporary, would nevert Tiieiess press hardly otr a considerable section of die workers. The brightening outlook and improving efficiency were, in the Gum’s opinion, factors tliat it ought to regard as indicating the situation was not so serious as ’o justify a reduction in wages beyond 1 the. amount disclosed by the cost m i living figures.