Statistician Says Method Incorrect

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30481, 1 July 1964, Page 12

Statistician Says Method Incorrect

(New Zealand Prest Association)

WELLINGTON, June 30.

The Government Statistician (Mr J. V. T. Baker) was called as a witness by the Federation, of Labour advocate (Mr T. E. Skinner) today to verify figures quoted in the Arbitration Court in the hearing for an 18.6 per cent General Wage Order.

He did so, with minor corrections,. but he said Mr Skinner’s method of assessing “effective productivity” was incorrect. Mr Skinner said he . would revise those particular figures.. The Employers’ Federation advocate (Mr P. J. Luxford) then asked Mr Baker .to supply the Court with various other statistics which Mr Baker said he would have prepared. Among those he wanted were statistics related to sugar prices and effects of rises in sugar prices.- He also asked what the • total cost would be- of meeting the claim ip full. The country’s economy looked good, Mr Baker said. He agreed with the statement that it would be foolish to expect the same rate of increase in overseas earnings as last year. “But, that is because there was a big increase last' year,” he said. “Prospects Good” ' There was' no reason to expect that export prices would go down, he said. In fact, the prospects looked good. Asked by Mr Skinner for his interpretation of what various statements in the Budg M meant, Mr Baker said the Minister of Finance seemed to expect more increases in prices, but not such high it Teases as last year.

Mr Skinner said the F.O.L. was not basing its case on next year, but just wanted to catch up with what happened last year. Mr Justice Tyndall, who presided, said a general wage- increase, however, would have to be paid out of next year’s profit. After further questions about the Budget, Mr Baker said it sounded as though the Government was confident that next year was going to be a good one for the country..