THE COST OF LIVING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19444, 2 November 1925, Page 15

THE COST OF LIVING

HOW REFORM HAS HELPED THE WORKERS BETTER VALUE FOR MONEY. BETTER WORKING CONDITIONS. Are the people any better off under the Reform Government than under the Liberals? This question is particularly acute with those who work for wages, whether with brain or hand, and when the workers consider the amount they receive in remunera tion it is just as imperative that they should consider how it is spent. They have to consider whether tho conditions under which they work have improved of recent years, and whether tho Government is doing all it can to see that they secure full value for the money they * spend. With tho necessaries of life at a high cost, it is more than ever important that a loaf of bread should bo the right weight, that milk should be of a good standard, and that every other article should repre sent the full value for the money the worker has to pay for it. The Reform Government has made strict regulations in regard to all these matters, which are so important to the workers —more important to the workers because they have only their wages to live on, whereas the wealthy need not be so concerned. It is, however, a recognised truth that those who have ample money are the most careful in the expending of it. To them, these safeguards as to the quantitiy and quality of tho necessaries of life arc not so important as to the happy-go-lucky workers, whose interests should therefore be protected ,against unscrupulous tradespeople. As the workers comprise the great majority of the population, it is evident that the regulations, enforced by the Reform Government, in regard to the conditions under which the workers earn their wages, and obtain full value for the money they spend on the necessaries of life, prove that the Reform Government legislates in the interests of the majority. Quality of Food. Few people not in the trades realise the conditions which hedge in the purveyors of food —all for the benefit of the consumers, principally the workers. How many people are acquainted ! with the regulations issued under the Health Act, 1920, to prevent the con lamination of food during manufacture and sale? It would take columns of space to set out the many conditions which have to be observed by the many and varied shops which makes and sell food —bakehouses, hotels and restaurants, butchers shops, dairies, fish shops, etc. All tho many conditions arc designed for one purpose, namely to ensure that the supplies of the people are as wholesome as they can be. In other words, the Reform Government sees to it that the workers get the best value possible when they spend their hard-earned wages. The Government, through strict inspectors, sees that its comamnds are carried out. Full Weight of Goods. It is not only in the matter of foods, but in the case of other commodities, that the Government has imposed strict regulations. The Weights • and Measures Act has been greatly im

proved, and the inspectors under that Act have now power to prosecute coal and coke dealers who do not supply their customers with the correct weight I of the article purchased. The Government this year also passed new legislation (to come into effect in 1927) with very fur reaching effects. The new Weights and Measures Act provides for tho weighing of tall commodities, that will be provided j for in the regulat ions, 1o ensure that customers obtain the correct we gl t sought. The Sale of Boots. Recent prosecutions of shoo vendors in Wanganui showed how the Government is safeguarding the workers. Tho Footwear Regulations Act, which came into force in 1913, provides for stating on the footwear the nature of the material contained in tho soles of boots, and substantial penalties are provided in case the sellers of boots do not have affixed to them tho required stamp where li shoddy” is used. This legislation was brought about to protect the pporcr people of the community. Rent Restrictions and Working Conditions. Further legislation of great boon to the workers in tho Reni Restriction Act. The Act was brought into operation during the present Government’s term of office. It enabled tenants of dwellings who considered the rents charged were excessive to have a valuation made, and when Inspector of Factories considered the rent asked for was excessive to apply to a magistrate to have the capital value of the property determined, when the landlord would not be entitled to a greater interest than 7 per cent, on tho capital value and all outgoings. Under the Reform Government, working conditions have been vastly improved. Under the Shops and Offices. Act the hours of male workers in hotels have been reduced from 60 hours, a week to 48, of female workers it hotels from 58 to 48 hours a week, ano ( in the case of all employees in shops from 52 hours to 48 hours a week, while the wages of employees starting in shops have been increased from 5s a week to 10s a week, with an increase in the annual increment from 3s to Bs. Provision has also been made for the heating of shops in order to ensure the comfort of the employees in colu weather. During tho Reform Government’s regime, the Factories Act has been considerably amended by reducing the hours of work of woollen mills employ-

ees from 48 to 45. The starting wages of all workers in factories have been increased from 5s a wrok to B’s. with I annual increments of 5s instead of 3s. Help for Unions. ' The Government, recognising a real I grievance of the tradesmen of the i railway workshops, decided to recognise a tradesmen's union, and these workers are at present approaching the authorities with a view to bettering I their conditions. , Under the Workers’ Compensation | for Accident legislation, the rale of compensation was first increased to 155 per emit, and later to 58 per cent., in place of 50 per cent., under the j Liberal Party's legislation. The j amount for total incapacity Jias been , increased from £5OO to £750, and in the lease of negligence by the cmplover, to | £looo. I Tho Apprentices Act was enacted in j 1923 for the purpose of providing betI ter facilities for boys to learn trades, and to encourage boys to enter trades , rather than follow tho “cuff ane I collar” or “blind alloy” occupations. ; In order to save expense in respect to the bringing of actions before tho I Courts by the trade unions, the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act has boon amended to enable the executive of tho union to take action. Under this Act, previous to the present Government coming into office, a worker was only entitled to claim arrears in wages for a period of three months. During the last session of i arilament, however. tho Act was amended to enable the worker to claim arrears for six months.