WAR AND WAGES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 65, 17 March 1915, Page 2

WAR AND WAGES.

■ , ■' I THE COST OF LIVING. NEW AWARDS WANTED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Further argument on an application made by various trade unions for the resumption of the hearing of industrial disputes was heard by the Arbitration Court this afternoon. Dealing with the unemployment factor,. Mr. Carey, the union representative, referred to the cheery reports of -the Labour Department during-prac-tically all the period of the war. The weekly statement was that unemployment was practically normal. The war itself was a check on unemployment as the unemployed worker either enlisted or stepped into the place of a worker who had enlisted. Mr. Carey stated that the expeditionary force was mainly recruited from the cities and towns j contrary to general impression, and the unemployiperit; • supplied many of the recruits. Official figures were quoted to show. that this was the case in Australia, and the de- , fence authorities could show that the { same position obtained here. Another reason urged by Mr. Carey I for the repeal of the judgment was the j increased cost of living. It was estimated that in the four years prior' to the war the cost of living to the worker in Wellington had ' increased I from between 7J per cent, and 10 per tent.. In the five months of the war, to the end of 1914, there was an I average increase of 8J per cent, and' | since January 1 another increase of 4 per cent, had taken place. The increased cost of living was very serious to the award worker. The 48/ to 50/ wage fixed in many awards practically now represented less than 40/. It was only just that these conditions should be discussed, and it was in the public interest that the Court should not ! cease operations. | Mr. Carey said that the judgment of August 6 had not been received witli | bitterness by the workers because of the uncertainty of the future conditions of the Dominion. It was underst.io-I that the judgment was to last until normal conditions were resumed. If the Court would hear the application, concluded Mr. Carey, the awards could be easily safeguarded. The risht to review them could be reserved, "or they could be made shortdated. What was wanted was constitutional redress in a constitutional way for a state of affairs that was creating grave discontent. REPLY BY EMPLOYERS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The employers' reply to the workers' contention that the Arbitration-Court should resume the hearing of industrial disputes, was heard to-day. Mr. Pryor (secretary of the Employers' Federation), said that upon the decision of the Court depended to a considerable extent the" 1 existence of* sqnjft \y# jnesses, the question as to.a further increase of prices in certain, .directions, and metittVof a.' rfotT'inconsiderable number workers. The Court was really called upon to decide a momentous national question. Mr. Justice Stringer 6aid that was too sweeping a statement. The. application •was only to open the doors of the Court. • If any industry would be so seriously, affected as to close it up if an award were made, the.Court must be given credit for recognising that. Continuing, Mr. Pryor contended- that the application was not calculated to assist employers in their endeavour. to maintain normal conditions. It was really an application to-enable workers' unions °to prosecute their claims for higher wages, shorter hours, and more restricted conditions of work. The workers desired the Court to infer that because prices had risen in some directions, employers were making enhanced profits. It must be obvious that unless manufacturers and traders were taking advantage of the needs of the people,since demand fell as prices rose, they must be doing less profitable business than before the war. He proposed to submit information which would show employers were not only earning smaller profits, but were in many cases carrying on business absolutely at a loss. Argument is proceeding.