COST OF LIVING.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3353, 4 December 1919, Page 3

COST OF LIVING.

WAR BONUS TO BE RAISED. EXTRA PENNY PER HOUR. RISE T 0 DA'l‘llu‘ FROM JANUARY. Before llearing the case set down for decision of the Arbitration Court in Wellington on Monday morning, the President, His Hon-or Mr Justice Stringer, made 3, pronouncement of general interest in respect to the additional bonus to be granted in view of tlle report of tlie Government Statistician. in regard to the cost of living. and the increase in prices. ‘ He Stated that the bonus had been estimated at ]d an hour, in addition to the 2—}d an hour already granted, making 3-}d nan llour in all for workers paid by the hour. For workers paid by lthe week the additional bonus would amount. to a week. I i The extra bonus would be made due from January, .1 next, and as them was no machinery to make the award. ing of it automatic, and it would talie some time to hear all the applications the awards would be ifiade retrospeciiiVG t 0 January 1, in each (j,a_ge_ ‘His Honour said that on April 19 last the Court had fixed basic wages for three classes of workers: (1) Unskillerl; (2) sezniaekillecl; and (3) skilled. These wl-ag'es were not to be the subject of.’ variation during" the currency of the award. In addition to basic wage, a bonus of 2.‘_.d per hour had been granted, thcisum. to be adjusted at six monthly periods~on September 30 and L\<'larcli 3]. in eaclr year in order to compensate for the. increase in the cost of living as ascer‘rainetl by the G()\'-'ernlnen.' S'f:l?*lSlil.(f.ldll. The first adjustment was to be nrude us soon after September as practicable. The Court 11-ad new received the I‘ep:2rl: of the Government Htav'.isti«:i-mi. for the period of six months. The report, continued his Honour, covered not only the three principal food groups and rent, fuel, and lighting, but also items of clothing‘, draw .p(‘l'y, ctc., in respect of which the Sta-7 tistician had made special inquiries. In ordel'.to compensate the worker for the further increase in the cost of living, it was estirnater-l in the report -that the existing bonus of 2;d per hour should be increased to 3.‘_.<l per llCll“ in future. Tlleret'ore the Court, said his Honour, would grant, in all. appropriate cases the increases indicated. As it would be necessary to take each case on its merits, formal application must be rnatle by all unions wish. ing to tsake a<lvantag'e of llhe provisimz.