COST OF LIVING BONUS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 November 1920, Page 7

COST OF LIVING BONUS.

EMPLOYERS' DIFFICULTIES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wanganui, Nov. 19. At the Arbitration Court, evidence produced to-day showed that in some trades at least the limit where increases of wages couid be passed on to the public was being reached, and the breaking point would soon be reached if conditions did not change. The discussion arose during the hearing of applications for the 9s cost of living bonus from private hotel and boarding-house employees, also licensed hotel employees. The Licensed Victuallers' Association emphatically protested against the bonus, contending that the burden of the cost of living pressed heavily on hotel-keepers and the limit had nearly been reached. The position of private hotel-keepers, who catered for working men, was almost impossible, as they could'not raise the tariff to meet the increase. It was contended that the cost of living did not affect employees. It was an absurd anomaly that the employer who had to pay the increased price of bread and butter had also to pay a corresponding increase to the employees to whom the bread and butter were given. A somewhat similar state of affairs was stated to pfevail with regard to the bakers' and pastrycooks' trade. Unless relief was given some firms would have to go out of business. The union representatives stated that, in view of the whole question of bonus being discussed at Wellington, they would refrain from commenting. His Honor remarked that apparently when charges could be passed on to the public there was no difficulty, but a stage would ultimately be reached when it was difficult to carry on business any longer and unemployment would result. He hoped unionists would consider the question carefully and see that they did not kill the goose which laid the golden egg-