CUT IN WAGES. EFFECT ON LIVING COSTS

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18344, 2 June 1931, Page 6

CUT IN WAGES.

EFFECT ON LIVING COSTS

CLOTHING PRICES DECLINE. HAMILTON MEN’S VIEWS. The effect upon the cost of living which the 10 per cent, cut in wages decided by the Arbitration Court is likely to have, is a matter of much conjecture. That a drop in the cost of living should follow in natural sequence seems reasonable to expect, but whether this fall will be commensurate with the cut is a matter of 'some doubt. Various local tradespeople interviewed by representatives of the Waikato Times to-day offer comment upon the subject. Their views we print below. Cost of Clothing. What concerns the ladies more perhaps than the cost of food, is the cost of clothing. A leading draper of the town stated that drapery costs have been on the decline for some time. They would have been lower still, however, had the Government not imposed a surtax of 22$ per cent, on imported lines just prior to the Imperial Conference. The additional tariff now raised against Canadian imports would more than nullify any reductions following the natural dowmvard tendency of goods from the sister Dominion. The speaker pointed out that 90 per cent, of the silk hose used in New Zealand came from Canada, and the 30 per cent, additional duty would mean an increase of about Is 3d per pair on a 10s line, despite any fall in price in the country of origin. Duty on Canadian 'silk hose under the new tariff would be 67$ per cent., compared with the existing 37$ per cent. There were some lines of New Zealand woollen goods in which one might have expected to see a reduction already, but doubtless now that the 10 per cent, cut was made compulsory under awards, a reduction would follow. The gentleman in question said he did not blame the Government for its reprisal against Canada, for where tariff barriers were raised against our products we were forced to retaliate. Cheaper living would come about by the cessation of protection for the bolstered industries of this country, for if an industry was so sick that it had to be fed on stimulants the whole time it were better dead and the money and energy diverted to something alive and productive.

POSITION OF BARBERS. UNFAIR COMPETITION. QUESTION OF REDUCED PRICES. Inquiries made from the leading Hamilton hairdressers and tobacconists to-day indicate that little can be done in their business in passing on to the public the effect of the 10 per cent, wage reduction. It was pointed out by one hairdresser that the assistants are already paid 7s 6d over the minimum award rate. Owing to the widespread price-cutting of tobacco lines by retailers who use these lines purely for advertisement the legitimate tobacconists could not make further reductions. The only possible action might be a decrease in the price for hair-cutting from Is 6d to Is 3d, but this would be a matter for united action and would have to be discussed by all the, local hairdressers. It was, of course, impossible to reduce the price of shaving, as no profit was made on it in the aggregate. Another tobacconist stated that the public could hardly expect lower charges when the business was subject to unfair competition and there was such little scope for profit.

DOCTORS’ CHARGES, " MATTER NOT DISCUSSED." Asked if there was any likelihood of doctors’ fees being reduced to conform with the general aim for lowering the cost of living, a prominent Hamilton medical practitioner stated that the matter had not been discussed by the local branch of the British Medical Association, and as far as he knew there was no proposal to discuss the matter. SOLICITORS’ FEEB. 10 PER CENT. DISCOUNT. It will be recalled that some weeks ago the Hamilton Law Society decided that all its members should allow a 10 per cent, discount on legal fees, operating from April 1. PRICE OF MEDICINES. A local chemist declared that no move had yet been made towards reducing the cost of preparing prescriptions or towards lowering the price Df medicines. It was possible, he added that the matter might he raised before the next meeting of the local ibranch of the Pharmaceutical Association, though he somewhat doubted It, as many chemists were making a loss on present prices. PRICE OF HAIRCUTTING. AUCKLAND, Tuesday. "As a body we have not considered the Court’s pronouncement yet," said Mr R. M. Carter, president of the Auckland Tobacconists and Hairdressers’ Association, "but a great many of the hairdressers have brought down the price voluntarily in the last two months. The reduction, from the general rate of Is Cd to is 3d, represents a fall of 16 per cent.” As far as shaving is concerned, said the manager of a saloon, to reduce the price from 9d to 6d would mean a reduction of 50 per cent., which was at present unthinkable.

CUT RESTORED IN CHRISTCHURCH. ACTION BY CITY COUNCIL. (By Telegcnph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. The Christchurch City Council decided this evening to restore the I per cent, reduction in wages and salaries of employees and lo return to the rate of 15s 4d a day for unemployment relief work. The voting was on party lines, Labour being in a majority on the council of nine to eight. In" reply to a question, the Mayor, Mr D. Q. Sullivan, M.P-, said the effect of the reduction made in the salaries and wages of permanent employees would be restored retrospectively. (Continued in next column.)

ARBITRATION COURT’S RULINO. NOT 'FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL. DECISION AT CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURH, Tuesday. In addition to restoring the cut Imposed on the wages of eiuployecs not governed hy awards, the Christchurch; City Council will not Impose the iO per cent, reduction indicated by the Arbitration Court on employees who are governed by awards. “ The Court’s ruling was merely permissive.” said Mr J. McCombs, chairman of the Finance Committee 10-nay. “The back pay to the first class of workers amounts to £500." i