COST OF LIVING.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3645, 4 December 1920, Page 5

COST OF LIVING.

THE NINE SHILLING BONUS. WELLINGTON, Dec. 4. Applying for the 9/ bonus for the Typographical Union, Mr Chapman, on their behalf, claimed that there was a big margin between the cost of production and land values and wages. In 1914, compositors received £3 6/ weekly, and at present £5 1/3. He objected to the reduction in nours and the payment for holidays being taken into account. The basic wage to-day ought to be £5 18/6. There was unemployment; yet On the contrary, men had been recalled by the

is from their superannuation pn retirement.

Mr Pirani, for the employers, saM Mr Chapman's figures were antiquatVages had increased 82 to *IOO per cent. He laid particular stress on the advance in the cost of materials, and especially of paper, which had gone up from £l2 to £7O per ton. For years, a number of printing businesses had not paid dividends. At least twenty are in this position, and others are not prosperous. He pointed out that men were earning up to £8 3/7 per week. He could not understand persons earning such wages and demanding a bonus. His greatest objection to it was as a matter of public policy. Newspapers were being cut down in size, and if the charges were again increased, prices would have to be raised. It was harmful to the community to clip the newspapers' wings, and it would be dangerous to increase the price to threepence. It was in the public interest that newspapers should be helped and not forced to curtail their news. All their expenses were being increased, yet the lowest wage was £5 1/3 for 45 hours, as against £3 5/ for 48 hours. Judgment in this and all the otTier applications was reserved.