BASIC WAGE.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20262, 3 August 1937, Page 11

BASIC WAGE.

26 PER CENT. INCREABE. (From a correspondent.) MELBOURNE. July 23. Trade Union Congress to-day dec'ded to agitate for a 25 per cent increase on the 1929 wage levels and for the creation of a Bureau of Statistics through which the unions could verify the figures upon which the basic wage is i#sed. It declared tTiat the basic wage was inadequate and protested against the instalment method of Its application, differential rates between the States, and unfair discrimination against railwaymen. Mr Don Cameron, assistant secretary of tlie Melbourne Trades Hall, declared that since ft 929, the purchasing power of the pound had decreased by 50 per cent. Workers were the xictims of a colossal fraud. Mr w. H. Turner (Via.), uld that commodity prices used by the Statistician were deceptive and wrong. A hostile atmosphere developed during the discussion on the policy to be adopted against war. i Congress divided into two camps, the Sydney Labour Council advocating support for collective security Hirough the League «*f Nations, which, tlie opponents declared. bound Australia to engage in foreign wars. An amendment moved by Mr Cameron. and supported by officials of the A CT! . sought to reaffirm Labour s policy of non-participation in oversea; wars, and opposition to any treaty or pact involving preparations for war.