COST OF LIVING.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14043, 28 April 1920, Page 3

COST OF LIVING.

(Per Press Association.) GISBORNE, .April 27. Mr Justice Stringer delivered an important judgment in the Arbitration Court this afternoon. In April, 1919, tlie Court fixed the basic wage for skilled. semi-skilled, and unskilled workers, to which was added a bonus of 2i-d per hour to compensate the workers for the increased cost of living up to March 31, 1919. and intimated that the bonus would be adjusted as on September 30 and March 31 of each year. In December last the Government Statistician reported that it would be necessary to increase the bonus by Id per "nour to hourly workers and 4s per week to weekly workers. This additional bonus was accordingly granted and made pay-, able from January 1 last. The Court has now received a report from the Government Statistician, in which he states that for the six-monthly period ended March, 1920, a further increase of ljd per hour to hourly workers and 6s a week to weekly workers is required in order to compensate for the further increase in the cost of living, including clothing. The Court, ! therefore, will grant the bonuses recommended upon applications made from time to time as opportunity offer. The bonuses will be made payable" as from May 1 next unless good cause is shown to" the contrary. The case of juniors will, be dealt with on their merits. In consequence of the general shortage of labor and *of the employers in several industries having agreed with the workers to raise the basic wages above those fixed by ■ the Court, the C<Airt- has determined to increase the basic wages of workers generally as follows: —Skilled workers, 2s per hour; sem i-s killed. Is 8d to Is lOd; unskilled, Is 7d. To these basic wages will be added a bonus of 3d an hour, which is intended to cover the increased cost of living to March 31, 1920. In making awards after the present date, the Court, except for a special reason, will fix the minimum rates in accordance with the above statement. The overtime rate will be fixed on the basic wage, only, exclusive of the bonus.