WARTIME WAGES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 30 May 1919, Page 4

WARTIME WAGES.

AVERAGE INCREASES 17^1 PER CENT.

(Special to Star.) May 27. A special enquiry into war wages was made towards the end of last year by the .Government-.nStatistician's ment, and the results appear in tne reoent issue, or the JNew jceaiana Year iJoo^k. I'ney stow that in tne occupations subject to awards and agreements tno increases granted during the war period averaged 17-55 per cefct. Thirtythree trades are covered by the enquiry .and the majority , show considerably more than the average inciease. What brings down the average is the percent^ ag«s of increases shown in the case of the aerated water workers (8.31) -coachworkers (9.o9),,,painters (5.54), printing machinists (7.69), -slaughtermen (9.09)., i.etail jsoft gobda storemen and' tailor^ esses;, 10: per cejat. Many of theie'trad** haje soice received increases' in wages. The occupations in .which increases of over 20 per cent, were noted are as follows:—Soearers/ 37.50, seamen 29.10, waterside work 27:89, grocer!*' assistants" 2?.75> woollen, mill female employees. 27.22, furniture makers 21.93 butchers (general hands) 20.90, bakera 20.50. electrical workers 20.60 engineers 20.45, drivers 20.00. ' The statistical. expei-ts note that there has been a tendency towards higher increases in the low 7 paid trades than in those occupations which were already well paid. High percentage increases are also shown in the industries necesary to carrying on the war, aad" in which conditions apparently, prevailed which made it possible to pay larger increases than were possible in trades detrimentally affected by the war. They also point out that owing to the larger amount of overtime worked, the percentage increases do not fully ©over theactual increase in turnings. A valuable indication, as to- the position of unskilled' labor during the war is furnished by returns of the earnings of unskilled labor*ers employed by local bodies. The labdr shortage is also made evident,-for they employed nearly 12,000-men in IQIS, but. came down to a pay-roll of 4627; in the last year~o£ the war. The increasing individual wage/^ which represents 21.6; during the' whole period, is shown iai the following average -annual earnings^ per employee 1915, £141; 1916, £151 • 1917, £161 lOs-j 1918, £171 10s. / Another feature nf the figures is that-, as the war progressed the wages of' casual employees increased in morerapid ratio than that: of th e perman-. ents,' until the .wages of both ; classes [ were nearly tfie same. ~.;