A LIVING WAGE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 197, 18 February 1914, Page 2

A LIVING WAGE.

•VM.'.K ESTIMATE of MVIN'O EXPENSES. l>v Cable—Prcs3 Association—Copyright Sydney, February 1". Mr. .Justice Ileydon's report declares iliat to make the lowest wage always the living wage would be to debar the manual worker who, in the immense :11ajority of eases, must remain a manual worker all his life, from any possible improvement of his position, llis wage might go up or uown, but only in strict agreement with the increase or diminution of his expenses, so that really it always would be the same. This would not be fair. He should have his share in prosperous times, because he was sti'l contributing the same towards the work or tne community, therefore in gool times he should get more than a living

The living wage of ,C2 8s is based on a family of four, composed of the parents and two children under the age oi fourteen living in a house of th;Ve rooms, for which a rent of li!s was allowed. Children over fourteen weri> as sumed to be earning their own living and should not foe provided for in tho living wage. The general expenses, over and above rent, food and groceries, were estimated at 14a weekly. The Judge recommends that the lowest wage for light labor be 8s Gd jer day, ordinary labor 8s 9d, heavy labor fls. The living wage should rise and fall according to the general tal>le of Commonwealth statistics as to the variation Ui the purchasing power of tile sovereign.