FIXING THE BASIC WAGE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3142, 6 November 1922, Page 8

FIXING THE BASIC WAGE.

The New South Wales Hoard of Tradein fixing tho basic wage at £3 18s per week for male employees seemed to have been a little bit dubious regarding the tables issued by the Commonwealth Statistician, and took steps to collect data, itself before arriving at a. decision. It was found that the official figures were at variance with those collected by the Board. As in Australia, too much reliance cannot be placed on the Government Statistician's figures in this country, bo bis efforts to be accurate ever so painstaking, as a guide to the Arbitration Court in fixing a living wage. In many articles of necessary uses for workers, retailers and manufacturers seem to have no price—they only consider what it is safe to ask for their wares. It is little consolation for the worker to know that the Statistician furnishes the Court with figures showing prices for certain articles ill fixing the basic wage, when be goes round half a. dozen shops or factories and finds that each dealer has a different price for exactly the same article, the variations in the prices ranging up to 75 per cent, between the lowest and the highest.

Sir Paul C hater, one of the wealthiest men in the East, whose rise to fortune is a romance of commerce, arrived in London on a business visit recently. About 58 years ago Paul Chater, who was then 1.8, went to Hong Kong, where he worked as a bank clerk for Co a month. To-day ho is a director of 16 companies; he is the senior unofficial member of the Hone; Kon<j; Executive Council; his house. Marble Hall, at Hong Kong, is a show place; and ho has a collection of porcelain for which he has been offered £250.000. Third-class passengers in Cunard liners will in future be as well catered for as the first and second (lasses in the matter of entertainment during the voyage. The Cunard Company is now providing orchestral musfc- daily in the third-class quarters in all. its passenger vessels. The Merengaria was the first C.'iinarder to carry an orchestra for the third class. The estate of the late Lady Dalgleish. widow, of Errol Park. Perthshire, who died on April 2t in her 87th vear. totals t'1.012.252. Lady Dalgleish was the only child and heiress ol' ihr late Mr I' 1 . Molison. of Errol. She. married: in 1860 'Mr William Ogilvy-Dalglcish. who was a chairman of the manufacturing firm of Baxter Brothers and Co. Ltd.. Dundee. Sir William was created a baronet in 1896. He died in 1013 in bis 82nd year, and the title became extinct. Captain John Boss, who piloted the tourist steamer Maid of the .Mist lor :\'A years across the foot of Niagara Falls and conveyed thousands of British tourists, has died, aged 73.