COST OF LIVING.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XLVI, Issue 147, 9 September 1925, Page 3

COST OF LIVING.

AND THE BASIC WAGE. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, Last night. A deputation from the Alliance of Labor recently waited upon the Prime Minister asking that a commission be set up to investigate and report on the cost of living and the basic wage. The Prime Minister promised to submit the question to the Arbitration Court for their observations and report. The Court’s report has been received by the Government and has now been made available for public information. The Prime Minister has informed the Alliance of Labor that the Government cannot see its way to agree to the'request to set up a commission. The Court reviews and controverts statements made by the deputation, but the last clause contains an important announcement on the mail? issues. Mr Hunter, a member of the Court, disagrees and submits a minority report. The majority report concludes: — “We desire to inform you that previously to the matter of a Royal Commission being brought up we had had under consideration the question of recasting what is known as the Gisborne pronouncement, by which the standard minimum rates of wages were set out for different classes of workers. The necessity for this has arisen because of increased rates having been conceded by employers or granted by the Court to workers in certain occupations. This has to some extent disturbed the balance between the rates for somewhat similar classes of workers and it has become necessary to make a readjustment, which will involve an increase in rates to be paid under futitre awards to workers in certain occupations, more particularly unskilled workers on the basic wage. In view of the possibility of a Royal Commission being set up, we decided to hold over the making of a pronouncement on the subject until it was learned whether or not the suggested Royal Commission was to be set up.”