KILLING THE GOOSE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 12208, 20 November 1920, Page 5

KILLING THE GOOSE.

rpor 'Press Association.) WANGANUI, Last Night. At the Arbitration Court evidence was produced which showed that in some trade s at least the limit where increased wages could be passed on to the public was being reached, and the breaking point would soon be reached if conditions were unchanged. The discussion arose during the hearing of applications for the 9/ cost of livingbonus for private hotel and boardinghouse employees, and also licensed hotel employees. The Licensed . Victuallers' Association emphatically protested against the bonus, contending that the burden of the cost of living pressed heavily on hotelkeepers, and the limit had nearly been reached. The position of private hotelkeepers who catered for working men was almost impossible, as they could not raise the tariff to meet the increase. They contended that the cost of living did not affect the employees. It was am absurd anomaly that the employer who had to pay the increased price of bread and butter had also to pay a corresponding increase to the employee, to whom the bread and butter was given. . A somewhat similar state of affairs was stated to prevail with regard to the bakers and pastrycooks’ trade, and that unless relief was given m some form they would have to go out of business. The union representative stated that in view of the fact that the whole question of the bonus was being discussed at Wellington, he would refrain from commenting. His Honour remarked that apparently when charges could be passed on to the public there was no difficulty, but the stage would ultimately be reached when it would be difficult to carry on business any longer, and unemployment would result. He hoped that unionists would consider the question carefully and see they did not kill the goose which laid the golden egg.