INCREASE IN BASIC WAGE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20762, 24 June 1937, Page 9

INCREASE IN BASIC WAGE

COURT DECISION IN AUSTRALIA WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN PROSPERITY SUBSTANTIAL ADDITION TO COST OF SERVICES United i- ss Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received June 23, 9.10 p.m.) MELBOURNE, June 23. Increases in the basic wage, averaging 5/- for all States, covering all workers under Federal Awards, were granted by the Commonwealth Arbitration Court to-day. Thus the bas'i wage in Sydney rises to £3 18s, In Melbourne to £3 15s, Adelaide £3 12s, Perth £3 14s, Hobart £3 14s, Brisbane £3 14s. Judgment of Court The Court’s Judgment, which was unanimous, affects nearly the whole of the metal trades industry, most State transport workers, and manufacturing interests. Tire ratio of workers interested in New South Wales, is about six in every ten. The remainder are under State awards. The Increase is estimated to cost the New South Wales Government an extra £500,000 annually. Benefit to Workers A hurried estimate by the Commonwealth Statistician is that workers in the Commonwealth will benefit by £6,250,000 a year. Application of Judgment The increase will be applied in two sections in order not to bear too heavily on industry. Half will be paid on the first pay in July, and the other half from the first pay day in October. The increase in cases In Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane amount to 6/- a week, and in cases in Adelaide, Perth and Hobart to 4/- a week. About 300,000 persons will be affected in the Commonwealth Maritime workers, who receive an Increase of £1 Is 6d a month, together with pastoral and gas employees, will receive the whole increase as from the first pay day in July. Shearers and station hands rates have been raised all round. Sharing Prosperity The Court, in announcing its decision said: “After grave conslder-i--tlon we are of the opinion that the present degree of prosperity in the Commonwealth and the existing circumstances of industry make desirable an appreciable Increase in the basic wage.”