COST OF LIVING BONUS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16895, 17 November 1920, Page 5

COST OF LIVING BONUS.

CASE FOB, BOTH SIDES. GENERAL DISCUSSION LIKELY. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Nov. 16. The Arbitration Court has been askod to permit a general discussion of the now cost of« living bonus at a special sitting of the court in Wellington on November 29. The court, in announcing at Christchurch ’ts intention to, grant an additional bonus of 9s per week, indicated that it was prepared to hear argument on the proposal. Mr. M. J. .Reardon, who will appear for the various unions affiliated to the Trades ' and Labour Council, has discussed the matter with Mr. W, Pryor, secretary of the New Zealand Jsmployefs’ Federation, and the representatives of the parties agreed to ask the court to consider the situation generally without particular reference to the amendment of the award in any one industry. It is likely that the Judge will consent to this'course. CHRISTCHURCH UNIONISTS. STfLL MORE BONUS WANTED. CHRISTCHURCH, Not. 16. A conference of Trade Union secretaries was held for the purpose of considering correspondence received from the Wellington Trades and Labour Council with' reference to the latest bonus to workers granted by the Arbitration Court, and 'the Employers’ Federation opposition i hereto Tho conference decided that, all possible assistance should be given to the Wellington Trades Council in their opposition to tho Federation’s claims, and that the unions be invited*to contribute on a membership basis. It was further arranged that Mr. M'Combs, M.P., should represent the Canterbury unions in the Arbitration Court in conjunction with the Wellington advocate, Tho matter of the amount of the bonus was discussed, and it wajs agreed that it was inadequate. Exception was also taken to the court’s method of fixing the bonus, and it was agreed to ask tho court to give full effect to a clause in the. 1918 legislation intimating to tho court to take into consideration any increases since the date of the award or agrcQjnent in tho cost of living affecting workers or any class ’of workers engaged in such industry or industries.

It was pointed out that a 10 per cent, increase in wages would not increase the cost of production in secondary industries by more than I 3-5 per cent.,'and in some industries a 10 per cent, increase in wages would hot increase the cost of the finished article by more than \ per cent. The .price to the' consumer of imported articles would not be appreciably, affected whereas the prices of primary products which aro governed by the world's markets, would "not ho affected .at all.