WAGES IN AMERICA

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9812, 8 November 1917, Page 3

WAGES IN AMERICA

HIGHER THAN IN AUSTRALIA.

During the course of a reply to a deputation last week, the New South Wales Minister for Labour and industry, Mr Beehy, quoted some figures showing that the wage standard was higher in -America than in Australia. The Minister was asked by representatives of the Master Retailers’ Association to consider a long schedule of suggested amendments to the Hirly Closing and Arbitration Acts. Referring to- a statement that the tendency of wages to increase was continually forcing up the cost of living, Mr Beehy said the increase in the wage standards of Australia had been inevitable. It had not, however, been nearly so groat as in America. In America, the wages paid to skilled workers were about 60 per cent, higher than in Australia, he said, while unskilled workers got about 20 per cent. more. The difference between the two countries was that in America there was no limitation of output. Bc-cruso of this, the actual labour cost of an article, in proportion to output, was probably no higher than in Australia. The real issue which. Australian manufacturers had to face, said Mr .Beehy, was not so much the increase in wages as the reduction of output.