THE BASIC WAGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22470, 14 July 1936, Page 10

THE BASIC WAGE

AUCKLAND PEOPOSAL FIXED AT £5 A WEEK FAMILY OF FIVE PERSONS LABOUR COUNCIL'S FIGURES As far as Auckland is concerned the local Trades and Labour Council has decided to recommend that the basic wage should be £5 Os 6d a, week. The Trades and Labour Federation in Wellington will be asked to submit this assessment to the Arbitration Court in the near futtiro when tliG matter is made the subject of a special sitting. "The standard set out in the report of a special committee is one below which no family should bo asked to live; it is the absolute bedrock," said Mr. H. Campbell, the council secretary, yesterday. About a month ago the conned set up a committee to collect information upon the subject. During the intervening weeks each member made exhaustive inquiries among members of his particular union as to the average household expenditure of a man and his wife and three children. It was upon this basis that their reports were made. When members had gathered sufficient information they held a meeting and compared data. From that meeting came a common decision, covering the following recommendations, which were adopted by the council: £ b d Clothing .. •• 1 1 ® Food .. • • • • l l* « Miscellaneouii .. . • * Kent (five rooms) .. 1 & Total . . • • 5 0 6 Clothes Allowances The various items have been analysed in separate divisions, the first of which i« clothing, for which the following allowances were made: An allowance of £ls 18s a year was made for the husband, including two suits calculated to last three years and estimated to cost £4 10s a year, three pairs of working boots costing £1 a year and estimated to last two years, an overcoat to last four years at an annual cost of £l, a pair of "best" boots to last two years at an annual cost of los, two pairs of working trousers to last a year, £2, three working and two "best" shirts to last one year £l, boot repairs 13s a year. Various other items such as underclothing, handkerchiefs and pyjamas went to make the balance of estimated expenditure for clothing. The secretary's comment upon this section was that the allowance of £4 10s a year for a man's suit was little enough. The average man needed one suit a year, but the council had extended the time to 18. months as the basis. Working boots were regarded in a similar light, although a man would use more than one pair of boots in IS months.

Needs of Women The council allowed £l6 8s a year for the wife's clothing, including a winter costume to last two years at a cost of £1 10s a year. Two hats a year at a cost of £1 for the two and a summer dress to last two years at a cost of £1 a year were included in the total allowance. Six pairs of stockings a year at a cost of £1 7s, a pair of "best" shoes at £1 a year to last two years, and another for one year, £1 ss, and a winter dress to last two years at an annual cost of £1 were included. The balance of estimated expenditure was made up with the cost of various items of underclothing, etc. Items not included were cosmetics, perfumes, powders, jewellery, scarf, fur, and a manicure set. "To show how conservative was the council in its inquiries, consider the question of women's clothing," said Sir. Campbell. "The allowance of £1 10s a year for a winter costume is ridiculously low, as are the majority of the items in this section." He added that the council considered an allowance of £8 a year for each child would be little enough. Details of Food The estimate of £1 14s 6d a week for food for families of five included an allowance of seven loaves of bread, 3s 2jd; 161b. of meat, 6s 8d; 31b. of butter, 3s 9d; 51b. of sugar, Is 3d; 21b. of jam, Is; lib. of bacon, Is; 1 dozen eggs at an average price of Is 6d; quarts of milk, ss; vegetables and fruit, ss. The balance of items under this heading comprised a number of necessities, but did not include custard powder, cornflour, essences, bicarbonate of soda, biscuits, cheese, currants, dried fruits, honey, rennet, macaroni or spaghetti, olivo oil, icing sugar or gelatine. H "There are few families of five limiting themselves to seven loaves of bread, 31b. of butter and 10£ quarts of milk a week," said the secretary. "Five shillings for fruit and vegetables is little enough. It is very low." Included under the heading of '•'miscellaneous" are the following:—Fuel and light, 4s; groceries (not food), including soap, matches, starch, polish, etc., 2s; tobacco, Is 8d; insurances, 4s; recreation, amusements, gardening, ss; school books, 6d. No allowance is made for dental treatment, renewal of household drapery, crockery, glassware, fares, literature, renewal of household utensils and other items.