MINERS' WAGES

Evening Star, Issue 18094, 9 October 1922, Page 8

MINERS' WAGES

REDUCED ONI SHILLING' PER WEEK ARBITRATION COURT DECISION. [Pbb United . Press . Association.] WELLINGTON, October 9. The Arbitration Court announces a reduction in coal miners’ wages equal to one shilling per week, aa compared with 16a weekly in the last pronouncement. This order Is made in accordance with the provision clause headed ‘Variation of Bates,’ and will operate from November 1 next. COURT’S METHODS. ANALYSIS OF POSITION. [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, October 9. The court says that the rates fixed by awards and industrial agreements are in the case of time rates 60 per cent, above the rates payable in 1914, and in the case of piecework rates 50 per cent, above such rates. These increases were adopted from the national agreement made in February, 1920, which provided for increases on the basis of the price statistics for food for the month of January, 1921, which then showed an increase of 57.76 per cent, over the prices ruling in July, 1914. The court accordingly decided to base the subsequent six-monthly increases and reductions of rates on the percentage increase or decrease disclosed by the Government Statistician’s returns of food prices for the months of March and September in each year. The 57.76 per cent, increase of January, 1920, was represented by an increase of 41.21 per cent, in March, 1922, and by. an increase of 39.44 per cent, in September, 1922. The reduction in the rates of coal miners made by the hist .order, of the court was more than the, reduction, made hy the general order affecting the workers in other industries, whose cost of living adjustments are based on all groups of statistics. Owing to the drop in food prices having been very much smaller, during the past six months than it was during the preceding period, the reduction in miners’ rates is on this occasion a very small one. From figures given in illustration, the reduction works out at 2d a. day on time rates and Id a day on piecework.