COST OF LIVING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 November 1939, Page 4

COST OF LIVING

margin in favour of wages. FINANCE MINISTER'S REPLY TO REQUEST. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. A request for periodical increases in wages to enable workers to keep pace with increased living costs was made by a deputation to Ministers of the Crown from the conference of the New Zealand Labourers' Federation. The Minister of Finance. Mr Nash, submitted figures in his reply to show that while the cost of living had increased. wages had increased simultaneously. He claimed there was a margin in favour of wages. The deputation asked for the abolition of Scheme 48, which provides for farm improvement work by contract, or as an alternative a fairer basis of fixing prices. It was also stated that it was the desire of the conference that Hie full medical benefits under the Social Security Act should be put into operation, and that the stand-down period of seven days before benefits were available should be abolished. The Acting-Mnister of Social Security. Mr Parry, said that the department was sympathetic regarding cases of hardship caused by the stand-down period. Such cases were being dealt with under the provisions of the Act. The Acting-Minister of Health, Mr Armstrong, said that the introduction of the full medical benefits was receiving close attention.