COST OF LIVING.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 October 1922, Page 4

COST OF LIVING.

FALL DURING HALF YEAR. EQUAL TO 3a PER WEEK. t By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Oct. 6. In the Arbitration Court to-day Mr. Justice Frazer gave the pronouncement of the court on the cost of living and it? relation to wages. He said: “Measured in wages the cost of living has fallen during the past half year to an extent that would reduce the adult male wage by 3s per week. If the principle adopted in the former wage revision is follows, th? corresponding reductions for adult females and juniors are Is 6d and Is per week respectively. This pronouncement is not a judgment or order of the court, but simply a statement of the movement in the cost of living as represented in wages.” A sitting of the court will be held in November to hear representatives of employers and workers in regard to other considerations which should weigh with the court in determining whether wages are to be reduced, and if so by what amount. PROTEST BY LABOR. LOWER WAGES RESENTED. REDUCTION TO BE FOUGHT. Wellington, Last Night. A conference has been convened by the Trades and Labor Council to discuss what action should be taken in reference to a possible Arbitration Court pronouncement on a reduction of wages, and it has been decided to hold a public meeting on Sunday week to discuss the pronouncement on the cost of living variation. It has further been decided that if a reduction of wages is foreshadowed steps will be taken to prevent the enforcement of such reduction on the ground that wages at present are insufficient to provide a fair standard of living, especially as unemployment is so rife. A committee was set up to confer with the Alliance of Labor on the matter of arranging for an advocate to contest Labor’s case against a reduction before the Arbitration Court.