THE BASIC WAGE

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 128, 27 November 1923, Page 3

THE BASIC WAGE

BEFORE ARBITRATION COURT. The question of the basic wage was raised in the Arbitration Court = to-day by Mr. J. Read in connection with the General Labourers' dispute, heard in Conciliation Council yesterday. ' Mr. Read laid stress on the contention that the cost-of-living figures did not take into adequate account the rentals* paid by the workers. He argued that the •basic wage was too low, and the union* were determined to bring the matter before the Court with a -request that the Court might.see its way to redress the grievance of the workers in regard to the basic wage. , , . His Honour Mr. Justice Frazer said he did not think it was niuchYuse whipping a dead horse so far as the rent and cost-of-living question was concerned. The Court had. had the best statistical evidence and had worked on that. After the end of this year there would not be a six-monthly adjustment, ' but that would not prevent the .Court, making adjustments as it had done in the pastin accordance with the cost of livine The Court fixed a date provisionally for the hearing of the General Labourers case for Thureday, 6th December