STANDARD RATES OF WAGES

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22182, 27 August 1937, Page 12

STANDARD RATES OF WAGES

ARBITRATION COURT

HEARING

WAGES AND PRICE OF

PRODUCTS

CftOSS-EXAMiNATIO* OP

PROFESSOR TOCKER

(,I'KESS ASSOCIATION - TELEOftAM.) AUCKLAND. August 26. The, Arbitration Court to-day concluded its hearing of the case to determine standard wages for unskilled, semi-skilled, and skilled labour. Practically the whole of the morning was spent in the cross-examination of Professor A. H. Tocker, dean of thd Faculty uf Economics at Canterbtiry University College, by Mr J. Roberts, on behalf of the Federation of Labour. To-morrow the Co art will hear submission's from representatives of the parties.

In answer to Mr Roberts, Professor Tocker said wages must be closely associated With the prices Of the goods they produced. He could not say what those wages should be. Mr Roberts: Supposing Tboley street merchants did riot buy anything from New Zealand for six months. Do ydu think we would go without anything and starve? Professor Tocker: No.

Is it not - a fact that your theories are in support of two sections of the people—the moneyed landholder and the farmer land gamblers?— That is not a fact. My theories are riot in suppovt ot anyone.

But didn't you advise tl.e previous Government upon New Zealand trade and go to London to advise Mr Forbes? —I gave' him sortie advice. Yes, and look where he landed. Professor Tocker: I was hot interested in any political party; but I was interested in the restoration of recovery in New Zealand. You thaf associate rhb with recovery if you likd. Mr Roberts: Recovery was dUe to | the fertility of the land and the industry of the people. We have nothing to thank professors for. Mr Roberts: Have you any opinion to expregs as to whether wages should be increased or reduced?—On the evidence as I know it, I can see no evidence that would justify either ah increase or a decrease. Mr Justice O'Regah: You say nothing in your report about farming. I suggest that we need more farmers. i—l. am inclined to agree with that. . The proportion of the people who I are farming has decreased considerably in the last 30 years. One of the first methods of correcting that evil would be a reduction in the price of lahd?—l think the price of lahd has reduced itself in the last few years. During the depression everything—wages, prices, and interest—came down; but the value of land remained level. In many instances there was rJo need to show a reduced larid value, since the land had at that time no sale value. Values in the Year Book were merely a basis for taxation. The valuations in the Year Book have not been altered fbr rnariy yedrs. His Hdriouf: If justice were done, arid the Year Book told the truth, the value of lahd should be reduced. This concluded the evidence dhd the Court adjourned.