THE BASIC WAGE

Evening Post, Issue 73, 23 September 1936, Page 10

THE BASIC WAGE

(To the Editor.) Sir,—l notice that the great pressure of work upon the Arbitration Court has been causing the Government some concern. Mr. Armstrong stated that something would have to be done to relieve the position. However, he stated nothing definite has been decided so far. The Government's concern, however, is as nothing compared to the concern of hundreds of workers who at the present time are worse off than ever as regards wages. I refer to those workers who, while being members of a trade union, are as yet not covered by any award, as the time of the Arbitration Court is being taken up by the question of hours in certain industries, where in most cases the workers have already had their wages restored to the 1931 level. Would it not be a fair thing to put everybody on a fair living wage first? After all that is what the Government promised. According to the law as it stands at present, I believe all adult workers not covered by an existing award have to be paid a minimum wage of £2 per week, and fym my own experience and inquiries I have made there are a good many capable men at present holding down fairly responsible positions receiving that bare minimum wage, or very little more, and there seems very little prospect of an improvement for them" much before Christmas, despite the fact that others were placed back on the 1931 level from July 1 last, also despite the fact that tram fares and almost all commodities have been raised in price. Now this section of the workers looked to the promised announcement of the basic wage to relieve their position somewhat, as it was supposed to have been announced before September 8, and was to have been sufficient to provide for a man, his wife, and three children. Perhaps somebody will tell us why the basic wage will not be made known till late next.month, almost too late to be of very much use. I mentioned this matter to a wellknown member of the Government, and he informed me that although the position was unfortunate for those affected, there was nothing to worry about, as the basic wage wpuld be announced within a very short period. That was over a month ago.—l am, etc., FAIR PLAY.