LOWER BASIC WAGE

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 102, 26 October 1929, Page 9

LOWER BASIC WAGE

FALL IN NEW SOUTH WALES

DOWN TO £3 12S 6D A WEEK

United Press Association—Bj Electrie Telacrap- ■ -Copyrisht SYDNEY, 25th October. Tho State Industrial Commission has reduced the general basic wage from £4 5s to £3 12s 6d a week as being i "adequate for man and wife, now that tho support of children is provided for under the Family Endowment Aet." The rural rate.was fixed at £3 2s a week. The declaration of the new wagelovels has been delayed for fourteen days to enable Parliament to consider the mattor if it so wishes. The table of deductions under the decision will be: Adult males, 12s 6d a week; adult females, 6s 9d; junior males, ss: junior females, 2s Bd. i RrDDINGTON DISSENTS. . Mr. Justice Piddington, President of the Commission, in dissenting from the decision of the majority, contended that the new figure was not a living, but a catastrophe wage. The Commission's inquiry, he held, had been a waste, of public time. The existing wage was no higher than what was required to maintain the standard of living. Employers had refused t.» make an effort to show that the retention of the present wage-level was inimical to the conduct of industry w-ithiu tho State. Each shilling reduction represented roughly one million sterling in New South Wales awards. Further, Mr. Justice Piddington pointed out that the basic wage-earner was also penalised by an equal reduction under the Family Endowment Act. Tho Commonwealth basic wage in Sydney was £4 14s 6d a week, and tho present State level was the lowest in Australia. LABOUR CIRCLES ROUSED. The Trades Hall to-day condemned the new basic wage as outrageous, and declared that Labour must organise for the destruction of a Government conniving at a reduction of wages. Mr. Lang, Leader of the State Opposition, to-day described the 12s 6d a week reduction in tho basic wage as tho most calamitous thing this State has experienced in recent years. The resignation of tho Bavin Government alone eould allay the panic and prevent the disaster threatening tho commercial community. - Mr. Bavin, on the contrary, counsels calmness. He declared that he realised that the economic results of the large decrease in the basic wago would necessarily have far-reaching effects and would rcquiro serious consideration by tho Government. He prom-! ised to give Parliament an opportunity to consider the position next Tuesday.