TIMBER AND WAGES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3111, 29 October 1913, Page 23

TIMBER AND WAGES.

INCREASE IN PRICES. (From Oub Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, October 23. A return in regard to the average i*w ■ creases in the prices of kauri timber, ana also timber workers’ wages jn the northertt; industrial district during the last 12 yoanl, 1 which was recently ordered on the motion of Mr Coates, was laid on the table of the House to-day by the Prime Minister. The return shows that the prices of kauri'" advanced as follows during the period men* 1 ' tioned; —

Increase since 1901—66 2-3 per cent., 55 per cent., 26 1-3 per cent. The figures for 1901 and 1910 are taken from the report of the Auckland Cominv*sioner of Crown Lands for 1911. The | figures for 1912 are taken from the evidenooc-, given before the Cost of Living Commissions by Mr W. B. Leyland. The return that no information is available in regard! to the prices of rimu and totara for th«| same period. The figures given in regard to timber* workers’ wages show that the rates under the awards have increased sinc*« 1902 by approximately 6d per day. or per cent. In giving evidence before the Cost ofVj Living Commission last year Mr LeylandiS stated that the increase/in the wages actu«|f ally paid in the last six years to 76 mei*,| and boys at his town mill in Auckland wudl £57 per week, or 41 jjer cent. His hush® wages 10 years ago ranged from 35s to 45sl| per week and found (10s}. whilst in 1912;f| they rajiged from 57s 6d to 70s and foun4i||, (20s). This showed an increase of from 6d to 25s {lev week and found (10s), equal,j| 1 to 67j per cent.

- SecondI class. Medium, class. . ' June, 1901 ... 15s 12s 6d ' 9s 6d v| j December, 1910 24s 18s 6d 12s -1 1912 25s 19s 6d 12s -