STANDARD WAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 200, 24 August 1937, Page 8

STANDARD WAGE.

WORKERS , EVIDENCE. PAYMENT BY WEEK. ARBITRATION HEARING. Further evidence was given to-day in the Arbitration Court on the question of a standard of wages for skilled, eemiekilled and unskilled workers. Before Mr. R. M. Butler, the third advocate for the workers, presented his argument to the Court the president, Mr. Justice O'Regan, in reply to a question from Mr. D. I. Macdonald, chief advocate of the employers, as to the admissibility of discussion on holidays, said that the Court was not going to curtail discussion, but the Court's invitation was to assist in making a pronouncement on wages and, in making that, the Court would make no reference to holidays. "We are not in this ca~e suggesting any wagee." Mr. Butler said. "We are trying to state the facte of the case and to present a survey of the conditions, as they cxit-t. to the Court, and to submit strongly that the wages fixed by the Court should be such as to return to the worker a fair share of the wealth he has created, and to ensure him and his family a decent standard of living in' keeping with the prosperity of the nation/' Reference to Building Wages. Wages, too, eaid Mr. Butler, should be effective for 360 days in the year. He made special reference to building labourers' wages and produced figures to show that with the exception of Dunedin the average weekly wage was £3 4/9. Thie was the net figure, deductions for loss of time throfegh holidays and wet weather and other causes having been made. As had Messrs. Jamee Koberts and F. D. Corn well yesterday, Mr. Butler protested against payment by the hour. "The cur?e of hourly payment is one of the chief causes of this maladministration of Justice," he said. "We see no reason why wages should not be based on a weekly payment. If the employer deeires to employ casuali men, a percentage increase should be given." Holidays might not be covered in the Court's pronouncement directly, but an indication could be given by the Court of its intention in that regard, so that the matter misrht be adjusted in conciliation council. Dealing with casual rates, Mr. Butler referred the Court to the Australian practice, which was usually an additional 20 per cent on the weekly rate. The weekly basis should carry with it payment for all annual holidays end also annual leave. Loss of Time Recompense. Figures from the returns of builders' and general labourers, quoted by Mr. Butler, showed that in six weeks under review the time lost through weather conditions alone was just over 10 per cent. Previously Mr. Butler had quoted the Government Statistician to show ( that the cost of living in Wellington i for a family of five was just over £5. If the Court fixed the wage for these labourers .on an hours basis, then the--10 per cent should be added to that sum. In substantiation of the claims made. Mr. Butler submitted certain points:— (1) National income was back to normal and increasing. (2) The wealth of the nation was greater now than ever. (3) The workers were more efficient than over. (4) Official statistics proved national | stability and prosperity. (5) The natural population of the nation was not increasing, due to the fact that workers recoiled from rearing families, as the present wages were not sufficient for present needs. (6) An increase in the national population was an urgent economic and social necessity. (7) The causes of abortion and illegitimacy were a scandal to the nation, and he was of the opinion that such causes were directly due to the fact that breadwinners could not afford to increase the size of the family circle, and the young men could not afford marriage, due to the rates of wages prevailing. (Proceeding.) [An earlier reference appears on page 10.]