COST OF LIVING

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 145, 16 December 1926, Page 9

COST OF LIVING

BASIC WAGE UNCHANGED

FAMILY ENDOWMENT FOR

AUSTRALIA

SUGGESTED BY MR. PIDDtNGTON.

(t'fnited Press Association. —Copyright.) SYDNEY, 15th ■December.

Mr. A. B. Piddington, K.C., Industrial Commissioner, to-day issued his basic wago finding. This leaves the basic wage for adult males at £4 4s, but with a recommendation that a family endowment scheme be formulated. The female wage announcement is deferred. The Industrial Commissioner fixed tha standard of living for a family of five at £5 6s a week. In' suggesting a .family endowment} he said the living wage without it was futile. As the matter could only be dealt with fully by the Federal Parliament, the State Administration should, whether in conjunction or not with other State Governments, request tho Commonwealth Administration to pass the necessary law. If this were done the State scheme might be absorbed in a Commonwealth scheme. If an endowment fand were derived from a percentage of 5 or 6 per cent, on each employer's wages bill, collected by.the Treasury and distributed to mothers,' it.wojjld be ', a matter of .indifference to the employers whether employees were married or not. Workers with dependants equivalent to 4 children should be considered as having children to support.