COST OF LIVING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 70, 22 March 1916, Page 6

COST OF LIVING.

WAGE-EARNER PENALISED. HARBOUR BOARD FACES WAGES PROBLEM. " The rise In the cost of living, consequent largely on the increased value of food produced in our country, has penalised the wage-earner," said the chairman (Mr. C. E. Daniell) at the annual meeting of the Wellington Harbour Board. "The failure to recognise this, and to make an attempt to adjust matters, fellows our limitations as a community of business mon. presumably interested in producing wealth under the best possible conditions. Our traditions as traders hold us in firm grip, and yet withal there is evidence on all sides of a very fine Bpirit of goodwill, wanting, it would appear, a master-mind to define a line of action." ' ) Turning to the wages problem, Mr.! Daniell said that for many weeks past members of the Board had been discus-, I sing this question. "The prolonged conference between the shipowners and the waterside workers," he said, "has delayed a conclusion, but it is hoped that the Board at its meeting will be able to adopt the recommendations of the special committee charged to inquire and report. As before intimated, a sum of £20,000 per year is involved if the basis of wages adopted re casual labour ia approached, and, of course, the sum must be collected from those who use appliances of the port. At the close of the war it will be necessary to review decisions now arrived at. During the year the Board has received several deputations from employees, who have generally presented their requests in a reasonable spirit, in which it is evident that the men recognise that the Board with some success has sought to do the right thing, with the result that no very serious difficulty has been experienced."