LABORERS' WAGES.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 April 1916, Page 3

LABORERS' WAGES.

ARBITRATION COURT AWARD. l'ollowlng is a memorandum by Mr. •Justice Stringer, president of the Arbitration Court, on the Auckland builders' labourers' award, dated April ,'), 101G: The labourers working in connection with the various industries are usually the lowest paid class of workers, and the fixing of the minimum wages to be paid to such workers must, to some extent, govern (he wages of the higher classes of workers. The court therefore did not scV its way clear, at a time when indiisivial conditions are still in an unscil]ed slate owing to the continuance of the war, to grant any permanent increase in the wages of the workers affected by this and the other awards dealing with labourers, the effect of which upon industries generally it was, under the present abnormal conditions, impossible to foresee. At the same time the court feels that having regard to the present high cost of living which is chiefly attributable to the war, the present minimum rate of wages for labourers is insufficient to provide thorn with a reasonable living wage, and therefore that at least some temporary assistance should be afforded litem. The court therefore has awarded them an addition to the present minimum rate in the shape of a war bonus equal to 10 per cent, upon such rate.Svhich is to continue until after the expiration of three months from tlie termination of the war, the court reserving power to review the position in case the industrial conditions should, In the meantime, become better or worse. -Without committing itself to any definite opinion on the subject, a s the circumstances of cc.eh particular industry and the effects of the war upon it, prejudicial or beneficial, as the case may be, must necessarily be a determining factor in the matter, the court suggests that employers generally might well consider whether workers in their employ should not be granted a war bonus on the same lines as that contained in this award.

It is not, in the opinion of the court, desirable that well settled conditions should, in the present abnormal circumstances be disturbed, unless in special cases, but if concessions as above indicated were made by employers,' the court thinks that this' would go far to preserve industrial peace. It appears to the court that in order to provide workers under present conditions with a reasonable living wage, they should be paid at least Is 3d per hour in the ease of hourly wages, and at least £2 12 s p' r week in the case of weekly serVRF