WAGES AND PRICES

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 77, 27 September 1918, Page 8

WAGES AND PRICES

LABOUR LOOKS AT THE COST

OF LIVING

A LEVELLING-UP WANTED.

The schedule prepared by the Government Statistician showing the increases which have taken place in wages during the war-period has created considerable interest in Labour circles. The figures have been published at a . time when Labour is seriously considering the increased cost of living, and naturally the return has been carefully analysed. On the whole it is agreed that the figures present the true position, but it is feared that if they are taken alone they might . create a false idea. If Labour admits increased wages, it does not admit that the increase is proportionate with' the increased cost of the necessaries of life. The latter argument is, so Labour claims, based on the Statistician's own figures. The wages figures .published in The Post covered 33 gronps,- and the aeverago increase works out at, roughly, 17.7 per cent; The latest figures published by the Government Statistician, and' covering the three food groups only, show the following war increases in prices :-— ■ Groceries ...... 42.98 Dairy produce 36.33 Meat 37.12 The above are- the weighted averages for tho whole Dominion. The average for [ the three, groups works out at 39.35. Consequently, the difference between the increased prices and the increased wages is 21.65 per cent., in favour of the former. It is to be noted that the official figures do not cover clothing, under which head cotton alone shows an increase of 200 per cent. Footwear, too, has increased enormously ; in fact, everything has increased. It is contended by Labour that there is absolutely no justification fotf the big increases in local products such as dairy produce and meat. It cannot be said, either, that the big- firms handling groceries are on the verge of bankruptcy. On the other hand, it is alleged, they are making more money now than ever before. Wage 3, Labour holds, should have increased in the same ratio as the cost of living; such is necessary if the workers are to be placed in , a comfortable position. Any prosperity -which the Dominion may be enjoying at tho present time should be reflected in the working people of the community. Labour is very seriously considering what steps it can reasonably take in order to readjust matters more to its liking. . .