THE BASIC WAGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21734, 27 August 1932, Page 11

THE BASIC WAGE

CHANGE IN NEW SOUTH WALES COMMISSION’S DECISION. SYDNEY, August 26. (Received August 26, at 9 p.m.) The industrial commission appointed by the New South Wales Government after the elections, consisting of three judges, with Mr Justice Browne as chairman, conducted an exhaustive inquiry into the cost of living with a view to determining a new basic wage for male and female employees. Their decision was announced to-day, when they dedared that the male basic wage should be £3 10s and that for females 38s. This represents a drop of 12s 3d in the case of males and 6s 6d in the case of females. The commission expressed the opinion thait a proper amount allowable for shelter or rent was 18s, for clothing 10s Bd, for miscellaneous items 17s 4d, and tor food and groceries 245. . The_ male wage is based on a man with a wife and one child. _ It is estimated that the State Government will save £165,000 for every shilling that the wage is reduced, but ■on the other hand the Government will lose a substantial sum annually on the unemployment relief tax by reason of the lower wages. ~ - « The Government hopes that the fallinjr off of the unemployed relief tax will be counterbalanced, by increased employTrade circles calculate that the drop in the basic wage will reduce the State wage bill by £8,750,000. . . .. Employees’ unions are surprised at tne heavy reduction of 12s 6d in the case of males, and declare that it will be most difficult for families to pay their way, and that it will also make trade worse by further curtailing the spending power of the workers by at least £7,500,000.