FROM 1914 TO 1918.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 27 September 1918, Page 5

FROM 1914 TO 1918.

SOME OFFICIAL FIGURES

An interesting statement has been prepared by Mr Malcolm Fraser 3 Government Statistician, setting out increases in wages and wage rates in a number of occupations since the beginning of the war. Mr Fra-ser says that an inspection of Arbitration Court awards and registered industrial agreements shows the following percentage increases of wages in a number of trades and industrial occupations from July.. 1914, to July, 1918:

In each case; the increases paid as war . bonus have been included; The greater increases have been' granted in. the essential industries rather than in trades detrimentally affected by the war. ■ ■■• ■ : ■• ,:. : : - .. - . • .. --■

Occupations which were previously low-paid have also shown a. greater increase than those which, before the war, were paid reasonably high rates. The increase in the award rates, however, does not adequately represent the increase in the rates actually paid, Mr Fraser continues. From enquiries iecently made, there appears to be little doubt that the scarcity of and demand, for labor (particularly skilled labor) has tended to bring the wages payments above the minimum Taid down by awards. In other words, the award rates have generally tended to become, under war conditions, true minimum rates rather than standard iates/ as they were in previous years. Further than this, there is evidence that actual earnings have iuore-istd in greater proportion than have *I.c rates themselves. This is no rloubt br*a.ght about by_ more constant oiflployment. increase of overtime, increase of overtime rates, and concessions grantee 1 in regard^-to general working conditions. There has also been, apparently, a certain absorption by skilled trades of workers previously in unskilled occupations.

As an example of tie increase of earnings beyond the increase in wages rates Mr Fraser quotes figures relating to the State coal mines. The rates have been increased by a bonus of 17* per-cent, to contract workers and 20 per cent, to wages men. The? war increase to 31st March, 1918, as shown by the figures.of the Mines Department, have been 37.19 per cent, in the Point Elizabeth Mine,, and 30.76 per cent, in the1 Liverpool Mine.' An important indication of the extents to which earnings: have been increased during the* war is given by l he . of. fi?i al figures supplied to the Statistician's office by local governing bodies. A table shows* that the average annual earnings of unskilled labor, from 1914 to 1918.- have increased from £150 10s to £173 10s for permanent* men, .and from.£l29 10s to £170 for casual hands (an increase of 31.3 per cent,). -:.. , ■--.■',■■:.

Wages Percentage Occupations. of increase Aerated water workers 4,3 Bakers 26.2 Bootmakers, female 14.5 Bootmakers, male 12.5 Brewery employees 16.7 Bricklayers 194 Butchers, general hands ...... 17.5 Butchers, shopmen .; 7.% Carpenters 11*0 Coachbuilders 11.6 Coal-miners 18.0 Drivers 20.0 Electrical workers 21.2 Engineers. 21.0 Fellmongers 24.0 Flourmill workers 14.8 Freezing Workers .. 10^3 Furniture makers ...... 20.0 Grocers' Assistants .35.4 General laborers 13]2 Painters j^o Plasterers 18 1 Plumbers ..' n'l Printing machinists ...; ' 7^7 ' Seamen ..:..... ,.•:...; 27.4 Shearers ....' 37*5 Slaughtermen '". Storemen : 23 7 Tai'loresses' ..10;0 Timber workers .................. 20.Q Waterside workers ...........!![ 25!o; Woolleii workers, male :....... 24I4 Woollen workers, female. ./.... '28.0 ;