THE LAW OF WAGES.

NZ Truth, Issue 441, 6 December 1913, Page 2

THE LAW OF WAGES.

■ A Westralia Ims a funny judge. Ha is reported to have said: "Porsonally, ho would agreo to a round robin that e very o no should get a £>l minimum wage." Why does ho niako it 4H ? Why not £s ? Won who tnlk aa tliia judge do not understand the law that determines wages. Wages on an averago aro determined by tho standard of living demanded by the workers. If at present tbc worker is paid 30s a day wages ns a living wage, and ho produces this 10s m four hours, thore is leit to tho employer four hours' surplus. If wages are to bo risen from ios to £,% a, day it stands to reason— seeing I'^d itself represents so much social labour— that it would take tho workor eight hours' labor to produce the £i wage. This would lenvo %\o surplus for tho employer. This is the reason employers always fight against nn increase of wajjeH or a reduction of the hours of the working day; it interferes with Uielr profits. : *