REVIEWING THE BASIC WAGE.

Taihape Daily Times, 25 July 1919, Page 3

REVIEWING THE BASIC WAGE.

-EXPLANAT-lON BY COURT_ ‘ ' Complaint was made to the Arbit_ ration Court in Wellington by ‘MI-_ M_ ‘J. Reardon, that While the Court had stated it was prepared to do some,thing to assist the workers to cope with the increased cost of living now, i the workers‘ li;-ad the g'ighjb to ‘plead only the difierence between the cost of living at the aking of the 13st award, and the cost of living now, That was unfair in so far as no one, sin-ely, pretended» that the last word in wages had been reached before the war broke out. “The Court minimised its own power for good by its decision.” said Mr Reardon_ “It must be clear now that the anticipation of the Court of a fall in prices is not going to be realised for a very long time. In nine cases out of ten the workers are very much worse off to-day than in pre-war days, and the Court has laid down a rule that prevents us from asking that the employees should be put on a prewar footing, a.nd in my opinion that is wrong.” Mr. Justice Stringer: There is nothing to prevent a reconsideration or the basic wage when an award‘ runs out. The rule that we laid down is only a working rule for the adminis‘tration of the War -Legislation Amendment Act. W e have always said that it does not preclude the Courtfrom reconsideration of the basic wage at any time when an award runs out. Mr. Reardon: “That, of course, is much more sati:-f’:lr'+°~".'

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The Maoriland Dairy Co. is paying 1/7; per pound of butter-fat until further notice. Cans supplied. For particulars Write box 185, Wa.nganui.— Advt. _._______________l_:________