Hong Kong and Yaumati Ferry Company, whilst in Govern- ment service, the Post Office employees were putting forward an equivalent demand. It is probable that if a settlement can be obtained in any one of these concerns, by arbitration or other means, a general settlement will ensue as a matter of course.
Cost of Living
During the earlier part of the year the level of prices of staple commodities, the main factor affecting the cost of living of the bulk of the population, was lower than for other post-war years. This state of affairs continued till the middle of the summer when the effect of the political situation in China began to be felt, and the supply of food from the interior became more difficult. By the end of December there had been a considerable rise in food prices. The Rehabilitation Allowance, which for the majority of workers in European employment takes the place of a cost of living allowance and which during the post-war period had, for monthly-paid workers, averaged $84 per month, was steady at $81 for the first five months of the year, but by the end of December it had risen to $102. Since this allowance is based on the cost of certain food and fuel items it is clear that for workers, who expend a large proportion of their pay on food, the general cost of living had appreciated. Undoubtedly the political situation and the uncertainty as to the supply position, together with the very acute housing shortage, has resulted in a general rise in the cost of living which has affected all classes of the community./ A diagram showing the average weekly food and fuel costs is given at the end of this Chapter.
Wages
Wages for Chinese artisan and unskilled labour in European-owned industries and in transport concerns are to a large extent uniform and have been determined through a number of negotiated agreements. These rates have also been applied by the Government to its own labour of similar grades. The rates are based on an 8-hour day for 26 days per month and include the Rehabilitation Allowance, which remained steady for the first five months of the year at $2.90 and $2.35 per day for artisans and labourers respectively, but which by December had risen to $3.60 and $2.85. Average daily earnings, including the allowance, in the foregoing concerns are approximately as follows:
Skilled tradesmen and Skilled workmen $5.80
Semi-skilled workmen
Unskilled workmen
$8.20
$5.00
$6.50
$3.50
$5.00
Since basic wages have been more or less static for two years it is felt now in some quarters that the time is
21