COST OF LIVING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 May 1940, Page 7

COST OF LIVING

BEARING ON WAGE RATES. STATEMENT BY MINISTER EXPECTED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) ' AUCKLAND, May 6. An important announcement on ths bearing of the cost of living on wage rates in the Dominion is expected tc be made this week by the Minister of Labour, Mr. Webb. A statement to this effect was made today by the Prime Minister. Mr. Fraser. It was reported last week that, arising out of an application by the Federation of Labour to the Court of Arbitration for a fixture for hearing a general ease for wage increases, in which the Court would be asked to make an order for an immediate and simultaneous increase in all award wages tc meet the increased cost of living, s conference between employers’ anc manufacturers' representatives and the federation was held in Wellington. The decision of the conference wa: that representation be made to the Government to introduce legislation empowering the Court to amend the wage provisions of awards, taking into consideration the cost of living ana economic circumstances generally, such amendments to be reviewed at not les: than six-monthly periods. When this report was submitted tc the Prime Minister on his arrival al Auckland, he indicated that a Ministerial statement would be issued this week by Mr. Webb. ■