WORK AND WAGES

Southland Times, Issue 19518, 18 May 1922, Page 5

WORK AND WAGES

THE BASIC WAGE. NEW SOUTH WALES DECISION. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable AssociatioiJFX SYDNEY, May 17. The Telegraph asserts that the Cabinet has decided to gazette the new basic wage without delay ; and also to favour abolition of the 44-hour week when the Assembly meets if Judge Beeby is not requested to review the 44-hour judgment in the interim. A committee appointed by the trades unions to consider the new.«hasic wage has drafted a report of fourteen points repudiating the verdict on the grounds that the Board of Trade was not impartial and that the declaration was based on unreliable data. The committee also objects that wages were increased only once in the year and have now been decreased twice in six months. Discrepancies between Judges Heydon and Piddington’s estimates, of various items in the cost of living, particularly rents, are referred to as testimony to the unsatisfactory method of arriving at a living wage. The former specified 14/6 and Mr Justice Piddington 22/6 for a house with an extra room. UNION RESISTANCE TO WAGE REDUCTION. SYDNEY, May 17. (Received May 17, 10.30 p.m.) The Government has decided to apply to the Court for a reduction of seven shillings a week from July 1 in the wages of public servants. It is estimated that this will result in a saving of £300,000 annually. The Government has also decided to introduce next session a Bill abolishing the 44-hour week. A meeting of union leaders decided that the most effective resistance possible be made against any wage reductions, and that steps be taken to effect a consolidation of the unions for this purpose.