THE BONUS CUT

Evening Star, Issue 18135, 27 November 1922, Page 6

THE BONUS CUT

MR M’COMBS'S VIEW. 11 PERPETUATING WAR SACRIFICES.” [Special, to the ‘ Stab.’] CUM ST CHURCH, November 25, Mr M'Combs writes in regard to the judgment of the Arbitration, Court relative to tho bonus reduction : “ I would like to say definitely and emphatically that, in _ my opinion, the workers are not receiving a square deal from the Government or from the court. During the war period the court definitely refused to increase wages in proportion to the increase in the cost of living, and although it may !>e true that the workers are to-day as well off as they were in 1918-19, that is not tho real point at issue. In stating that the reduced wages paid to-day have the same purchasing power as the wages paid in 1918-19 (a statement which is approximately correct) the court is either trying to throw dust in the eyes of the worker's, or it is evading the real issue. Tho cost-of-living increases are calculated on the 1914 prices, and the real test is that the wages paid to-day are 7s lid and 13s a week short of an amount sufficient to maintain, the 1914 standard of living. The legislation of the Government and the recent decisions of the court are, in effect, making permanent and perpetuating for all time tho war-time sacrifices imposed on the workers during the war period. To make the comparison with 1918-19, when real wages had been admittedly reduced, as to add insult to injury. The court should state tho position frankly and fairly. If it is determined to pursue a different method on the down ‘grade from that which was adopted on the up grade, it should drop all camouflage and say so quite honestly.”