STANDARD OF LIVING.

Thames Star, Volume LIX, Issue 16628, 27 October 1925, Page 5

STANDARD OF LIVING.

HOW TO REDUCE IT. LET WAGES FALL WITH PRICES. “STEADY, HONEST EFFORT.” To permanently improve the standdard of living of working in New Zealand and to generally work towards industrial stability, is the expressed desire of Mr T. Shafiler Weston, president of the New Zealand Employers* Federation, who stated when delivering his address to the conference: “Last year I centured to assert that I was more than ever convinced that the best chance of permanently improving the standard of living of workers in New Zealand during the next ten years lay in Labour leaders concentrating their efforts on maintaining the present rates of money wages and on counteracting the tendency of such rates of money wages to fall as prices of manufactured articles and food products fall, by impressing -upon workers individually, the absolute . necessity for furnishing steady, honest and loyal effort, free from strikes and go-slow. With the great growth of improvement in output of secondary industries throughout the world due to new and .improved machinery, plant and methods, the price of manufactured atricles must inevitably' fall. The opening up of new areas for agriculture, more intensive cultivation of old areas, ) better and cheaper transit facilities, and the study and development of agricultural science will probably result lin a gradual fall in food prices.. How to Reduce It.

“The recent return to the gold standard throughout the British Empire will assist this movement. The present cost of living Index Number is 163 as compared with 100 in 1914. If trade union leaders Would conclude a truce, to last three years, with the Employers’ Associations, based on the maintenance of wages by both sides at the rates fixed by present awards, modified Avhere necessary to conform with the recent pronouncement of the Arbitration Court, and would see that irritation strikes, and other wasteful industrial tactics were avoided, I am certain that this cost of livting index would be reduced at least 20 points. 11 The Basic Rate.

“A reduction of 20 points would mean that money wages would purchase oneeighth more than they do to-day, i.e., real wages would be increased oneeighth of 12J per cent. A rise of 12J per cent, is, a good one. It would make the present basic rate in New Zealand, £4 per week, worth £4 10/- through increased purchasing power. In Queensland, after six years rule of a Labour Government, the basic rate as passed tfy the Arbitration Court was only £4. The utmost the Queensland Labour Government could do by Statute, and that very reoultpntly, was to make.this £4 £4/6/-. Surely, in face of these figures, the plan -I venture to suggest- is worth a trial ?” Trade Unions. Immediately prior to the seamen's strike, the prospects for the future of the Dominion were never brighter. In referring to trade unions the’ speaker cited the conditions prevailing *in Australia,, and said: “It will be curious to see how long the Australian worker will endure the tyranny of trade union bosses? At present, in' jjt quarrel with an unscrupulous employer, the trade unionist has the protection of his union. What protection will the trade unionist have now in hte event of his disagreeing with his trade union boss or falling foul of the majority in his union? “Get Rich Quick.” “Electors in New Zealand will do well to watch closely the legislative efforts of the New South Wales and Queensland Labour Parliaments during the next few years. It may well be that the results of their legislation will be to deter other English-speak-ing communities following in their footsteps.” The- only effect of the basic wage set by the j Queensland State Parliament, he continued, would be to lead to increased prices rendered possible in some cases by higher protective duties; and such increased prices, by raising the cost of living, will neutralise the rise in money wages. “After all, It is unwise to allow anyone to fix his own reward. Each of us always values his individual efforts at a higher rate than hiis fellow-citiens. It is a true saying that a man would quickly become rich who bought his friends at his valuation and sold them at their own. Hence in most wage disputes some impartial tribunal must be the ultimate judge. Neither the employers nor the workers are fair judges. Can a Parliamentary Party in power, dependent for their positions and, in Australia, their handsome salaries, upon the votes of the members of trade unions, be deemed an absolutely safe tribunal to determine from year to year the rate of remuneration of their supporters?”