NEW WAGE SYSTEM.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 230, 22 June 1908, Page 8

NEW WAGE SYSTEM.

VIEWS OF MR. 3. G. HAR-KNESS.

Mr. J. G. Harkness,' president of the Chambor of Commerce, when interviewed by a Dominion repbrtor regarding the Hon. Dr. Findlay's suggestions regarding a new system of \wage. regulation, said he was not prepared ,to criticise Dr. Findlay's proposals in ' detail . till ho had given them further study. On tho broad questions involved, ho said it seemed to him quite wrbn'g to say that tho Arbitration Court was not responsible for the increased cost of living. Increases in wages and in prices had gone on simultaneously, and it seemed-,a, reasonable infcronce that there was a connection between them. Owing to, the! increasod cost of labour, it did not pay producers now,to sell their products for the prices which they would have ■ been 'willing 1 ' to accept-some years ago. Tho outcome of the arbitration system, up to the present time, appeared to bo that wages had been raised, hut the worker did not get the benefit, because the difference was absorbed by.the increased price-of goods; at the samo time, tho employers were not benefited, becauso loss work was- dono for the higher , wages than had been done under the old conditions. The first'question for consideration in connection with' Dr. Findlay's scheme would be: "What is.a needs, or living wago?" Somo authority, who had given much thought to the subject, had laid down that, a living wago should be just, double tho anwunt required to procure the necessaries of life. Ho could not say whether -that was so or not. Certainly present conditions called for a re. adjustment. • .. ;