40
(5) on 82798/31
7 (20)
para 4 of
There is little doubt that dollar salaries
prior to 1930 were inadequate; but these salaries
were raised by 20% in 1930. As regards the gradual
rise in the Chinese standard of living, no proof of
this is brought forward in the petition, nor is there
any material available on which to form a judgment
in this matter.
The arguments for the petition may be
criticised on the following grounds: -
(1) In 1930 surprise was expressed by the
Secretary of State that the Salaries Commission
recorded the cost of living in 1930 as higher than in
1920.
(2) The cost of living in January, 1936 is
estimated, as regards staple commodities, to be about
75%, in terms of dollars, of that obtaining in the
period 1928-33.
(3)
Rasa 3 f1201
Salaries were fixed in 1930 when the
exchange value of the dollar was only very slightly
higher than at present, and the purchasing power
somewhat lower, (see 2 above).
para 69(201
para 5...
(4) Consequently it has been calculated
that the pyrchasing power of the cut salary in
January 198
1976 is actually greater than that of the
revised salary in the summer of 1930.
(5) As regards price levels, it is argued
that to make a comparison with July, 1935, is not quite fair,
as the dollar was then standing at an unusual
and exceptionally high level.
(6) The figures quoted in paragraph 17 of
the petition as regards the rise in the price of
staple commodities, do not tally with the records of
these prices which are kept in the Secretariat for
Chinese Affairs.
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