COST OF LIVING.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18438, 23 March 1922, Page 9

COST OF LIVING.

ARBITRATION COURT REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, March 22. The Arbitration Court to-day replied to a series of questions put to it by the Wellington Trades Council regarding its powers to vary awards concerning the mterpietation of the 1922 Act. The Court said that, iu regard to the adjustment of wages on the basis of the increased cost of living, it would hear one general case in Wellington to cover all awards and industrial agreements throughout the Dominion. It was thought that three or four representatives of each side would be sufficient. The practice that obtained in the past in connection with applications under the War Legislation Act of 1918 would be followed. The Court would endeavour to make an announcement in regard to the movement of the cost of living about the end of the month, and on the 26th April would hear evidence and argument respecting economic and financial conditions affecting trade and industry and all other relevant considerations. All clear cases would be excluded from the operation of the general order. In the case of applications by employers for the exclusion of any class or section of worker from the operation of tho general order, on the ground that a greater reduction should be made, it will be necessary to prove the existence of exceptional economic conditions. The Court would have to be satisfied that the rate of renumeration would enable the workers to maintain a fair standard of living.

New legislation provided that the Court should ascertain a fair standard living as against a fair living wage under the legislation now about to expire. The conception of what constituted a fair standard of living might vary from time to time, but it was thought that the altered wording was intended to enable the Court to maintain as far as possible its relative standards. The rates fixed by any award or made after the coming into operation of the general order would not be affected by that order.

The Judge left it to the Wellington Trades Council to arrange the Labour representation at the. hearing on the general question.