ARBITRATION COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 February 1919, Page 5

ARBITRATION COURT.

INCREASED COST OF LIVING. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last nigbt. The question of the cost of living was before the Arbitration Court when the bearing commenced of the ironworkers and brassmottldera, coachbuilders, and plumbers applications for increased war bonuses. Mr M^ lflftlm Fraaer, Government 'Statistician, gave evidence that certain questions bad 'been submitted to him' bearing on tbe increased cost of living since the last award was made respecting certain unions- He explained that the cost of living was arrived at by apportioning the housewife's weekly expenditure, and the percentage of this «ii; Pood 34, bousing 20, lighting 5, clothing 13, miscellaneous 28, total 100. In regard to the coach workers, Mr ftauer quoted tbe following figures, taking as a basis a journeyman whose Wages in 1914 were £3 6s per week. The figures in parenthesis indicate the wage iMBinA at January 1919 to reach prewar *ahre in 1914: Food £1 2s 5:23 d (£1 Ift 4.87 d), housing 13s 2.40 d (14s <M5d), fuel and lighting 3s 3.60 d (4s 1.43 d), clothing 8s 6.96 d (12s 10.44 d), miscellaneous 18s 5.76 d (£1 0* 3.94 d) ■JI Mr Riser explained, in regard to doT tiring and miscellaneous, that the %- ores were estimates The Union's last Sward was made in November, IMG, and the following was then the distribution of wages, the flgirres for 1919 being given in parenthesis: "Food £1 3s 11.C4d (£4 9s 7.«7d), housing 14s 1.20 d (13* W.lfid), fuel and lighting 3* 6.30 d (4s M*d), clothing 9s 1.98 d (lis. 10.P7d), iniSeeUaheOns IBs 8.98 d (£1 Is 265 d). la regard to the iron and brassjfoßfidera, the position, according to Mr fkaser, was as under: Food £1 is ««7d (£1 11« «77d), housing 12* II.IM (14s 2.81 d). fuel and lighting 3s 8.78 d (4s 0.4 d), clothing 8s 4.81 d (12s T.&d), miscellaneous 18s 114 d (l»s lO.nd). The la*t award made for Iron and brassfownders was in Novemb«V, 1917, and the oro rata distribution of wasw at that date were: Food £1 lis 11.6 d f£l «s f1.24d1, housing 15s 3.30 d (15« «60d). fiiM and liffhtin? 3s !)83d |3s 95SdV clothing 9s ll.Md M2s 4.03 d), . miscellaneous £1 U 4.82 d (£1 2s 5.4*1. Tim nosition with reeard to the plumber* and gas-fitters wa* the same as in the case of the cos Mi workers. The court reserved its decision.