COST OF LIVING.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16850, 2 June 1920, Page 6

COST OF LIVING.

WORKERS AND BONUS. (SI'ECIAL TO "THE TRUSS/') DUXEDIN. June 1. Speaking generally on applications for increased wages and bonuses before the Arbitration Court this morning, Mr Coekson (employers' representative) said that since the Court's last pronouncement some industries had had to close down, and others had reached tho breaking point. If this caused unemployment it might have a serious effect. The President said that no doubt the position was a difficult one. The irony of the situation seemed to be that the workers were assisting greatly in tho increased cost of living against, themselves. The one remedy of all economists was more production. The workers were insisting upon higher wages and shorter hours, and the production was less. He did not know where it was going to land them. At a later stage Mr J. T. Paul said that the incrc-nsed cost of living was bearing just as hardly on apprentices as on journeymen. They were, in the majority of cases, the sons and daughters of the poorer classes.

The President said that the difficulty was to interfere with contracts entered into for a period of time. He had appreciated wljat had been said, and the Court would look into tho matter.

Mr A. Martin _ (representing the tailoring trade), said that the apprentices did not come from the poorer classes In some eases in the tailoring trade, the apprentices had a high school education. There was a great danger of bovs and girls getting too much money.

Mr Paul remarked that he had addressed the Court on tho general question .

When the factory tailoresses' application for an increased bonus came up, Mr Paul asked whether, in view of ' the Court's pronouncement at Gisbornc. thev would alter tlio basic wage for this indnstrv? •

Tlio President: "Wo did not hare this class of tailoresses in our mind at tho time.

Mr Paul: But there are also the skilled male workers, cutters, and pressors. Tho President said the Court would consider the matter of readjusting the basic wage for these workers.