STANDARD OF LIVING

Taranaki Daily News, 16 December 1926, Page 9

STANDARD OF LIVING

BASIC WAGE FINDING FAMILY ENDOWMENT URGED EMPLOYERS TO FIND FUNDS By Telegraph—Treia Assn. Copyright. Received Dec. 15, 5.5 p.m. Sydney, Dec. 15. Mr. Plddington, Industrial Commissioner, issued to-day his basic wage finding. This leaves the basic wage for adult males unaltered at £4 4s, but with a recommendation that a family endowment scheme bo formulated. The announcement of the female wage-find-ing was deferred. The Commissioner finds the standard of living for a family of five at £5 6s per week. In suggesting a family endowment, he said that a living wage without it was futile. As the matter can only be dealt with fully by the Federal Parliament, the State administration should, whether in conjunction or not with other State Governments, request the Commonwealthi administration to pass the necessary law. If this were done, the State scheme might be absorbed in the Commonwealth scheme. If an endowment fund were derived from a percentage of 5 or 6 per cent, on each employer’s wages bill, such being collection by the Treasury and distributed to mothers, it would be a matter of indifference to employers whether their employees were married or not. Workers with dependents equivalent to children should be considered as having children to support. Received Dec. 15, 11.5 p.m. Sydney, Dee. 15. Labour circles are greatly disappointed at the declaration of the new basic wage, and a meeting of union secretaries is being convened to discuss the position.