THE BONUS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18541, 29 April 1922, Page 13

THE BONUS

THE CASE FOR THE EMPLOYEES CONTINUED. (Pm United Pbess Association.) WELLINGTON, April 28. The employees’ case on the bonus question was continued in the Arbitration Court to-day, when Mr M. J. Alack, speaking in the capacity of secretary, of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, earnestly supported the case against any deduction being made in wages, and declared that the railwayman, who did not all pay such high rents as other workers and who received part of their clothing, were not able to keep pace with the cost of 1 living on present wages. Ho handed in family budgets m support of his argument. Mr L. F. Evans, of the Otago Trades and Labour Council, contended that no reduction should take place until a commission was set up to define a reasonable standard of living. Ho reviewed the trade outlook, and quoted various reports promising good times. Air Armstrong, on behalf of flic Canterbury unions, protested against any reduction, saying that the 1914 standard of living had not been sufficient, and that the wages of to-day did not enable them to live up to that standard; and if a commisjjon .was appointed it should go absolutely into the question of rents and reduction of wages. There was no other way to improve the prosperity of the country. Air Maddison dealt exclusively with the subject of a fair standard of living, sotying that if a proper standard were set up it would result in increased output, great industrial peace, and increased national wealth.