THE BASIC WAGE

Taranaki Daily News, 8 December 1921, Page 7

THE BASIC WAGE

SEVERELY . By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyrigtt. Sydney, Dec. 7. Numbers of employers continue to secure the court’s sanction to reduce the basic wage in accordance with the Board of Trade’s recommendation. Mr. McGirr now announces that a provision will be included in the Basic Wage Bill making it retrospeetve, so that where reduct,ons are made they will have to be refunded. In the Assembly Mr. McGirr, in moving the introduction of the Basic Wage . Bill, providing £4 5s for adult males and £2 3s for females, said the measure would abolish the Board of Trade, which had no • status. Beyond saying what a husband, wife and two children should live upon it should in no way interfere with arbitration. The Bill was revolutionary and would make the Tories squirm. It was part, however, of the bloodless revolution for which Labor stood. Mr. McGirr declared that high wages did not cause high prices nor the ruin of the country. In reply to the criticisms of Sir George Fuller, who declared the measure revolutionary, Mr. McGirr said the workers were satisfied. Sir George Fuller asked whether they were satisfied with an army of unemployed and with industries closing down. Mr. McGirr replied that, if they closed down, they could be run by the workers. If he had power he would do it to-morrow. Sir George Fuller declared that after such a revolutionary statement it was time people realised the class of men who were trying to get at the head of the present Government. He had never heard a Minister of the Crown make utterances of such a dangerous character. The Bill was read a first time by 42 votes to 39. EFFECT ON RAILWAYS. Sydney, Dec. 6. Mr. Fraser, chief railway commissioner, replying to a deputation from the country districts states that the ruling wages and reduced hours were killing country development. The business of the railways was rapidly decreasing and the cost increasing, and the department was faced with a deficit of £1,000,000. Five million acres were cultvated in 1916, but only 3,000,000 acres were under cultivation at present. The cost of coal had increased 110 per cent., and the country was not progressing, but going back.