LABOURERS WAGES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3007, 19 February 1917, Page 6

LABOURERS WAGES

ARBITRATION COURT'S DECISION

WAR BONUS OF 10 PER CENT

The Arbitration Court at Christcliui'ch has issued its award in the general labourers' case. The case attracted attention becauso of the elaborate details placed before the Court b.y the union, which was represented by its secretary, Mr. E. J. Howard, tho wives of members going into the witness-box and giving details of their household expenditure, husbands' earnings, and information of the extent to which debts were contracted, the latter point being raised with tho purpose of showing the Court that the existing wage was insufficient to enable thorn to pay their way. The union asked for a wage of Is. 4Jd. per hour for general labourers, in lieu of Is. 2d. being paid. Tlie amount awarded b.y the Court is as follows:— Tunnel men at rock-tunnelling work or sinking shafts over 10ft., Is. 6d. per hour. Tunnel men at clay tunnelling work and men in charge of derricks or scaffolding, Is. 3d. per hour. All other classes of labour Is. 2d. per hour. Two additional' clauses provide that so long as the British Empire remains at war, and for three months afterwards, a war bonus of 10 per cent, shall be paid in addition to these rates, and it is further provided that the war bonus may at any time during the currency of the award be continued wholly or partially, or may he increased or terminated as the Court on the application of any party to the award or of its own motion may determine.

Important Memorandum. In a lengthy memorandum to tho award, tho Court says': "Tho only question submitted to the Court was as to the minimum rato of wastes for general labourers. The chief argument used in support of the claim was tho decreased purchasing power of tho sovereign since 1913 as evidenced by tho tables issued by the Government Statistician. It has, however, been repeatedly pointed out, both'here and in Australia, that the purchasing power of the sovereign as shown in such tables is not an accurate guide as to. the actual_ rise or fall in the cost of living, especially in the case of a particular class of the community, tho tables being based upon the supposed requirements of air classes. Speaking of similar tables prepared by himself, the Australian Statistician says-:. 'When-' ever abnormal conditions arise (for example through drought/ -war, or other ■ extraordinary . circumstances) which involve corresponding changes in the ordinary usages of a community, the assumption that the price indexes and cost of living move together proportionately is more or less invalidated. Obviously they cannot do so because all sensible people change their regimen according to new conditions arising. ... It may also he noted that in abnormal times the change in the regimen compelled by the abnormal conditions will probably vary even from one locality to another. Hence, at such times although the price'indexes show the variation in the value of money based upon the normal composite unit,' they are not quite 'satisfactory for the purpose of 'showing the measure of adjustment necessary on a reasonable basis to. equate the value of wages or other payments with those of the former period.' " The memorandum proceeds: "It has also to be remembered that the increased cost of living so far as it is caused by the war is a burden which has to be borne by the whole community, and that to relieve one class of i 1 its proper proportion of that burden, simply means adding that proportion tp the burden "already being borne by the other classes of the community. The lowest paid worker, however, is tho least able to bear such burden, and should he relieved to some extent'if reasonably possible. Having regard to these considerations the majority of the Court are of opinion that they would not he justified in permanently increasing the existing rate of wages for labourers, and that the most they can properly do is to add to the wages payable under the award a war 'bonus of 10 per cent., and the award is made accordingly. Tt may be noted that in New South Wales where the cost of living is much higher than in New Zealand two judges after an exhaustive inquiry decided in August last that the 'minimum wage should he Is. 17-Bd. per hour, or 9s. 3d. per day, or £2 15s. 1 6d. per .week. Mr. M'Culloiieb desired to record his dissent from this decision. He thinks that the addition of the war bonus does not satisfy the reasonable demands of the worker, and that there should also have been an increase in tho rate, of the minimum wage.