THE BASIC WAGE

Southland Times, Issue 19657, 6 October 1922, Page 5

THE BASIC WAGE

DECISION OF THE COURT ANNOUNCEMENT EXPECTED TO-DAY jPer United Prew AflfwaaUon.) WELLINGTON, October S. To-morrow in the Arbitration Court, Hit Honour Mr Justice Frazer will probably deliver the Court’s anxiously awaited pronouncement on wages and the cost of living. This fact was notified during the hearing of a case to-day, when, after a short retirement of the members of the Court, His Honour stated that those present would no doubt be pleased to hear that the Court had practically arrived at a decision in the matter. They had been in communication with the Government Statistician, and it was expected that a 'definite pronouncement would be made on Friday. His Honour smilingly declined to be drawn regarding the nature of the pronouncement, remarking that it was inadvisable to take seriously all that had appeared in ihs newspapers. In making au appeal to the Court in connection with the revision of the basic wage, Mr W. A. Grenfell, the representative, said that in April, 192 U, when the whole Dominion was flushed with the greatest period of prosperity brought about by the high prices of primary prpducta and the exjienidture of war moneys, the Court saw fit to materially increase the rate of wages. Would the Court pleas* particularly note that the only grounds upon which the Court founded its determination to increase these rates were that there was a general shortage of labour and that Lhe employers hail voluntarily raised the wages of the workers above the basic wage fixed by the Court in 1919. The position to-day was quite a contrast, for there was no shortage labour, a surplus rather, and the employers were now anxioua to secure a reduction of wages.