WAGES STABILISATION

Northern Advocate, 21 May 1929, Page 2

WAGES STABILISATION

REMARKS BY JUSTICE FRAZER

(Per Press Association.—Copyright.)

WELLINGTON, May 20,

lu a memo, to the Auckland Stonemasons' award, Mr Justice Frazer lias embodied some remarks on the stabilisation of wages. He reiterates what the Court has said before, viz,,' that the cost of living is not the only factor to be considered. The general state of trade and the position of the particular trade concerned have to be taken into account.

The Court has brought the rate for unskilled labour up to 1/10 per hour, or (50 per cent, above the 19.14 rate. In the ease of skilled and semi-skilled labour, the Court has never given (50 per cent, more, but has added to their rates the same increase as to unskilled, which means a lower percentage on the whole. This was because the unskilled worker was the worst off and the others were usually paid more than the award rates. The function of the Court is to fix the minimum rates. The 00 per cent, increase was given in 1925 and the cost of living is, if anything, slightly lower now. To tlx the minimum fates on the basis of the higher wages now bei,ng paid to most workers would probably have a detrimental effect on the trade in question. Wages should be viewed broadly and it is worth noting that the Court has, since 1914, substantially increased the rates for many classes which were formerly below the standard minimum.

“On the matter of wages gonerally, ’’ says Mr Justice Frazer, “it appears to me that owing to the variations in the cost of living and conditions of employment in different Australian states and the different principles applied by wage-giving tribunals in that country, the Australian award rates cannot safely he taken as a guide in framing New Zealand awards. “