TIME LAG FAVOURS WAGES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 169, 20 July 1938, Page 9

TIME LAG FAVOURS WAGES

CLAIM BY MINISTER OF COMMERCE. STATISTICS OFFICE FIGURES QUOTED. i Per Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, July 19. A claim that the incomes of workers and small dairy farmers were ahead of the increases in the cost of living was made by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Hon. D. G. Sullivan, at Rangiora last night. He quoted figures supplies by the Census and Statistics Office, “a department that knows no polities,” in support of his contention. The Census and Statistics Office had supplied him with figures which showed that all the groups index of detail prices for April, 1938, was 13 per cent, above the average index for 1935, and that the wages rates index for adult males at March 31, 1938, was 23.9 per cent, above the average for 1935. Therefore at Marell 31 workers were nearly 11 per cent, ahead o ? the increased cost of living. ‘As farmers and small dairy farmers had received a greater increase in income than ordinary workers, they, too, were much ahead cf the increase in costs,” said the Minister. “This is the first time in history that the time lag has been in favour of wages as against costs.” The aggregate amount of wages and salaries paid for the year ended March 31 last was £98,600,000, equivalent to an increase of 50.1 per cent, over the amount for 1935. More significant was the increase in the volume of thfe production of goods, Mr. Sullivan saij. As between 1935 and 1937 the increase in factory production outside of the agricultural, pastoral, and dairying industries amounted to 18.6 per cent. Those additional goods could not have been purchased by the people if the increased cost of living had cancelled out, as was alleged, the increased wages and income, and they were not thrown into the sea.