THE BONUS

Evening Star, Issue 17953, 26 April 1922, Page 6

THE BONUS

BEFORE THE ARBITRATION 00001. [Peh United Phess Association.] WELLINGTON, April 26 ; The pronouncement of the Arbitration Court last month regarding the cost ol: living bonus under tho legislation of last session was discussed by representatives of tho employees and employers before the court to-day. The president (Mr Justice Prater) held, as it was understood the employers were seeking a further reduction of wages, tho onus of proof was on them to commence. Mr W. T, Young asked for the exclusion of seamen from tho general order, and special treatment for them, as tho union had never applied for a bonus, and had never received one. Mr W. G. Smith said the seamen’s award was registered under tho court.— Tho Court premised consideration of tho request. Mr J. Roberts urged that tho casual employment of watersiders also needed special treatment. —The President of the court said tho question might bo considered in making n new award. It would bo open to both sides to apply. Special treatment, was also asked for the boot trade amt carpenters. Mr T. 0. Bishop, the employers’ representative, urged that it was for tho mandatory court to consider the economic and 1 financial conditions affecting the trade and industry, as well as the. cost of living. Ho submitted that the lowered: income of the country and the readjustment of other countries rendered it impossible to carry on .New Zealand industries at tho present rate of wages. The President said that reports from tho different centres showed' shrinkages of employment, and' the remedy was reduced wages, lessening the cost of production of the price of tho article. Yew Zealand was now living beyond its income trying to maintain tho standard of living. It could not pay to hold the wages level above what industries could support. Public works undertaken at the, present high cost of wages and material could 1 never bo reproductive, and will always bo a burden on the taxpayer. As an example, he cited the Government workers’ dwellings. Tho Arbitration Court was Mice a surgeon operating on the sick body of Now Zealand industry. The attempt to adjust wages to tho cost of living regardless of output had failed everywhere. The estimated increase in family earnings for a period was 100 per cent., against 60 per cent, rise in the cost of living. Havings Banks deposits had tripled since 1914, which showed the prosperity of tho country. The court’s order of a reduction of 5s was inadequate. Kmployers sought a reduction of 13s per week, covering the whole bonus granted. [The telegram is manifestly mutilated 1 in transmission. We have excised a few words.]