THE WAGES QUESTION.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 4576, 29 April 1922, Page 1

THE WAGES QUESTION.

EMPLOYEES' CASE AGAINST REDUCTION. (Per Press Association.i Wellington, April 28. The employees' case on the bonus question was continued at the Arbitration Court to-day, when Mr Mack, speaking in support of the Ainalgagamated Society of Railway Servants, earnestly supported the case against reduction being made in wages, and declared that the railwaymen, who did not all pay such high rents as tho other workers, and who received part of their clothing, were not able to' keep pace with the cost of living on the present wages. He handed in family budgets in support of his argument. Mr F. L. Evans, of Otago, contended that no reduction should take dn qos suai uoissiuuuoo u [jq.un oocid to_ define a reasonable standard of living. He reviewed tho trade outlook, and quoted various reports promising good times. Mr Armstrong, on behalf of tho Canterbury Trade Unions, protested against any reduction, saying that tho 1914 .standard of living had 'not been sufficient and that the wagesof to-day did not enable people to live up to that standard. If a commis-' sion were appointed it should go closely into the question of rents. A reduction of wages was no way to improve the prosperity of the country. Mr W. Maddison dealt exclusively with the subject of a fair standard of living, saying that if a proper standard was set up it would result in increased output and create industrial peace and increased national wealth.