WAGE REDUCTIONS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17690, 16 February 1923, Page 5

WAGE REDUCTIONS.

AUSTRALIA'S RECORD. . (raox oub owh coreespokdeht.) '■■'.•' SYDNEY, February 7. In Australia last year nearly .1000 changes in wage rates took place. In this regard the Federal Statistician has made an interesting review. His figures show that in 305 cases increases were granted, and in 667 instanoesHhere were decreases. The net result was an all-round decrease of, 2s 7d per. head "per week m respect of 628,116 employees, and the total net decrease iwas equal to dty 0,002 The itigures include all changes which have occurred either through the opera-, tions of wage tribunals or as a result of direct negotiations between employers and employees; j In three States there hay© been general reductions in the basic wage, which ! affected aU employees working under State awards or agreements. In New South Wales the Board of Trade reduced the basic wage from £4 2s to £3 18s for males, and from £2 Is to £1 19s 6d for females; in Queensland (which has a Labour Government) a reduction was made by the Arbitration Court from £4 .5s to £4 for males and of 2s per week for females; and in South Australia a reduction for males from £3 19a 6d to £3,17s 6d was made by the Board of Industry.' The principle of quarterly adjustments adopted hy_the Federal Arbitration Court led to necreases in wages during the first half of the year, and increases during the latter half. The cost of living: in the United Kingdom was approximately 10' per cent, lower in October, 1922. than at the end of 1921, but in Australia the of livinga as measured by the Commonwealth Statistician's index number increased by about three per cent, during t&Peame period.