COST OF LIVING.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15972, 14 November 1919, Page 2

COST OF LIVING.

THE BASIC WAGE QUESTION. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. SYDNEY November 13. - The president, addressing tile annual meting of the Employers' Federation, urged thati a basic wage should be fixed by a Federal tribunal for the whole Commonwealth. He claimed that only by international regulation and raising the world standard of remuneration and working conditions to something approaching those prevailing here could thfi labourer in Australia hope, to maintain permanency the , privileges he at present enjoys. At the select committee inquiring into the financial provisions of the Child Maintenance Bill, the Under-Secretary for Labour stated that the new living wage would ;ost ■ staHte industries fourWen millions. He said it was estimated that under the basic wage the cost of living would rise twenty per cent. The ccst under the Child. Maintenance Bill would be £4,120,000.