COST OF LIVING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 May 1938, Page 2

COST OF LIVING

POSITION OF BUSINESS GIRL. BUDGET FOR A YEAR. More was heard in the Second Court of ' Arbitration at Wellington yesterday of the amount of money required by a girl to keep herself over a year, when the application of the New Zealand Federated Clerical Employees’ Industrial Association for an award for clerical workers in the Northern, Wellington (within 25 miles), Westland, Otago and Southland industrial districts was being heard. Evidence for the workers w.as given by a shorthand typist and bookkeeper, of Dunedin, who said she had had

eight year’s experience in clerical work, received a salary of £2 15s a week, and paid 30s a week in board. In present circumstances that salary Was not adequate. A wage of £4 a Week would be adequate and enable a girl to save a few shillings, she said. The advocate for the workers, Mr W. N. Pharazyn, put in the following budget:—

“What do you say about that generally?” asked the President of the Court, Mr Justice Hunter, handing witness a copy of the budget. “Is that a fair estimate of your own expenditure —reasonable expenditure?” Witness: It is certainly very reasonable. Would some of those things last a little longer? Would you spend 10 guineas on your holiday?—“You would

spend more than that. I have spent more than that.”

Can you find any item there that is overcharged? If so, tell me what it is. —“I do not see anything here that is overcharged at all.” What about the last item, £5 for

hairdressing and sundries?—“That is quite a reasonable charge.” Witness commented’ that the bathing costume was certainly very cheap. His Honour: Still, you would not wear it very much in Dunedin. Witness: Oh, yes, we have a very nice climate in Dunedin. Just tell us frankly could you economise on this budget?—“This is certainly a fair estimate of what a set number of girls could do it on.” Thirty shillings a week for board, is that a reasonable amount today in Dunedin?—“You would not get good board under it.”

£ s d Board and lodging 78 0 0 Travelling expenses —■ To and from work £3 18 0 Other than work ..£5 15 0--9 13 0 Annual holiday 10 10 0 Medical and dental 5 0 0 Renovation and cleaning cloth 0 12 6 Recreation, sports and cinema 1 12 0 Library, periodicals, books .... 3 2 6 Writing paper, stamps, etc. .. 1 17 0 Christmas and wedding presents 3 0 0 Unemployed tax on £3 5 4 0 Shoes —replacements and re5 10 0 Stockings 3 2 0 Gloves 1 14 3 Underwear 3 18 6 Coats and frocks 13 15 6 Hats 1 4 0 Umbrella 0 12 6 Bathing costume 0 12 6 Toothbrushes, etc 0 15 0 Sundries, including haberdashery, needlework and hairdresser 5 0 0 Total ....' £159 15 3