WAGES AND COSTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 15, 19 January 1943, Page 3

WAGES AND COSTS

POLICY CRITICISED

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, This Day. Dissatisfaction with the Government's delay in introducing stabilisation of wages and prices until two years after the Federation of Labour conference approved such a policy is expressed in a statement unanimously adopted by the Auckland Trades Council and sent to the Prime Minister and the chairman of the Stabilisation Committee. The statement declares that living costs have increased out of all proportion to the general increases granted by the Arbitration Court, and the position of the wageearners in New Zealand requires immediate consideration. The index prices generally used in computing movements of the cost of living are criticised and described as a most unreliable guide. The council contends that the rise shown should be 25' per cent, not 13£ per cent., and makes five recommendations to the Government: (1) Price fixing for all commodities vitally necessary to workers' families; (2) the establishment of machinery to make price-fixing more comprehensive and effective, with provision for more democratic control; (3) rationing of all essential commodities; (4) a complete review of the position of all pensioners and social security beneficiaries, Government servants, and all workers, particularly the lower paid; (5) raising the minimum tax levels and the remission of taxation on overtime earnings and penalty rates of pay.