COST OF LIVING BONUS.

Wairarapa Age, 14 December 1920, Page 5

COST OF LIVING BONUS.

AIUBTRATION COURT DECISION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) _ WELLINGTON, Last Night. In its reserved decision to-day, the Arbitration Court awarded the employees an increased bonus of 3s per week. In giving the decision oi' the Court, Mr Justice Stringer stated that it was shown clearly that owing to an unfortunate misunderstanding the bonuses granted to workers for the periods ended September, 1919, and March, 1920, wore based on calcula-tions-made by the acting-Government Statistician on the basis of the monthly index figures instead of, as intended by the Court, the moving average. The further 9s bonus had been arrived at on the same erroneous basis. The correct bonus for the last period was 7s, font since the total bonus over tha whole period should have been 15s ( and pis 10s per week was already being paid, the proper amount for the last period was ss. After reviewing the financial and industrial conditions now prevailing in the Dominion and elsewhere, the Court discussed very fully whether it was just and equitable to grant any further bonus at all. The Court regretted that there, had not been somo system of co-operation between the Arbitration Court, which fixed its wages, and the Board of Trade, which fixed its prices. It had the gravest doubts as to whether the Court was justified in granting tiny further increase, but, taking into consideration the fact that from January Ist to October 31st the workers were receiving 2s per week in excess of the correct amount, the Court would make tho bonus for the current six months 3s, which was, in the Court's opinion, as great as was warranted. The judgment was that of the president alone, Mr Scott (employers) holding that no bonus should he granted, and Mr McCullough (employees) that os at least should be granted.