1
Semi-skilled grades
Apprentices 'A'
10
220
33
28
B
20
Unskilled: Males
13
19
11. Females
10
15
These rates are based on an eight hour day and a twenty-six day month and are subject to appropriate rehabilitation allowance.
Apprentices' progression is as follows:-
1st year
2nd
#t
3rd
tt
4th
#1
5th
73
Cents per Hour
Apprentices 'A'
pprentices 'B'
10
8
12
10
15
14
21
20
28
20
"Apprentices B" are those serving their time to a trade where a lesser degree of skill is called for and where a shorter period than 5 years' apprenticeship is required,
226,
Government servants in receipt of salaries above $150 a month are paid a cost of living allowance based on a retail price index which is adjusted quarterly.
227.
Proposals have now been made for the incorporation of a substantial proportion of the rehabilitation and the cost of living allowances into basic pay. This is realistic as there is little prospect of the cost of living falling to such a level as would affect the new proposed basic rates.
228.
Regarding the food and fuel index (ppendix II) this method of calculating variations in the cost of living is said to have, the advantage of being extremely sensitive. I should have thought that this was its chief disadvantage. It has been my experience that industrial tranquillity is best achieved by securing uniformity and stability in wage rates. Cost of living and other allowances are very acceptable to the workers while the tredn, is upward. Then, however, the movement is in the other direction workers seldom appreciate the reason for this, The new proposals which are under consideration should be advantageous as they are likely to achieve greater stability in wage payments. When great dependence is placed on a cost of living index for wage settling disconcent with the index rapidly develops.
229.
It has proved to be impossible to ascertain satisfactory retail price quotations fully comparative over long periods and for this reason I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that it is impracticable to compare the present cost of living with that obtain- ing before the war,