COST-OF-LIVING BONUS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17631, 18 November 1920, Page 8

COST-OF-LIVING BONUS.

POSITION IN WELLINGTON.

CITY COUNCIL'S 1 BURDEN.

** Local bodies are right up against it," said a member of the Wellington City Council, when referring to the new cost-of-living bonus- announced by the Arbitration Court. He pointed out that, having struck the rates for the current year, the councils have no means (except by swelling the overdraft, if that were permitted) of raising the money to pay the increased wages. The councillor said he had been carefully into the matter, and had estimated that the 9s bonus would, in the case of the City Corporation, mean extra expenditure to the amount of about £29,000 per annum. It was estimated that £15,000 per annum would be needed for tramway employees alone, then there we're about 500 men connected- with the general services, 00 in the electric light department, and about the same number connected with the milk department. " This sort of tailchasing,"" he said, " is no good, as it will benefit no one. The extra money required to pay tradesmen and labourers alike will have to come out of their own pockets in the end, through other increases. The increases will be noted by

the statistician, who will pass his information on to the Arbitration Court, and another bonus will be granted, with the same wearying, harassing result. Where is it to end? Possibly it will all end suddenly in a way most people will not like, and wages will flop, with a collapsed market." ATTITUDE OF LOCAL BODIES. The subject of the bonus recently an-" nounced by the Arbitration Court was discussed by the Devonport Borough Council last evening, when a letter was received from the Auckland Suburban Local Bodies' Labourers' Union asking ♦hat payment of the bonus be commenced forthwith. A letter 'was also received from the Auckland Provincial Employers'

Association, stating that in view of the serious effect on some industries of the proposed new bonus, employers were requested to hold the matter of payment over until more definite information was received. It was decided to reply in each instance that the decision of the Arbitration Court would be acted on when made known. The One Tree Hill Road Board last evening received a similar demand from the union, and it was decided, to await an official announcement.

The "Auckland trades unions, at a meeting yesterday, appointed Sir. T. Bloodworth to represent them at the special sitting of the Arbitration Court in Wellington on November 29, when argument is to be heard regarding the recent cost ofliving bonus of 9s a week. The representatives of the employers and the unions have asked the Court to consider the general situation in regard to the bonus without particular reference to the amendment of an award in any industry.