A BASIC WAGE.
A great many people must have been shocked by the news that the New South Wales Industrial Commission had recommended a reduction of the basic wage from £4 5/ f the present State level, to £3 12/6 a week. The explanation of this tremendous "cut" lies in the fact that, on the new scale, provision is made only for man and wife, the support of children being secured by the Family Endowment Act, while the former basic wage was meant to cover expenses for a "standard" family of man and wife and two or three children. Mr. Justice Piddington, President of the Commission, recorded his dissent from the majority vote supporting the reduction, and Mr. Bavin has done wisely, in declining to act upon the Commission's recommendation. It does not matter how logical the argument may be, the loss of 12/6 a week would be, as Mr. Piddington says, "catastrophic" to most workers, and the economic consequences of the change would be serious in the extreme. However, Mr. Bavin has stated that he intends to modify radically or to repeal the Child Endowment Act, one of Mr. Lang's mo>. popular extravagances, and the struggle over this measure may react disastrously upon the Bavin Government and its tenure of office.
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Bibliographic details
Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 257, 30 October 1929, Page 6
Word Count
212A BASIC WAGE. Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 257, 30 October 1929, Page 6
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