ENG-1947 — Page 34

Pre-War

1946

1947

(end)

(end)

Rice (1st and 2nd grade average)

per catty

$0.80

Rice (3rd grade) per catty

$0.07

$0.84

0.60

Fresh Fish, per catty

0.28

1.65

2.53

Salt Fish, per catty

Beef, per catty

Pork, per catty

0.24

1.95

2.73

0.35

2.45

2.51

0.54

3.25

2.72

Oil, per catty

Firewood

0.24

2.30

2.52

10 cents

10 cents

10 cents

for 5.6 catties

for one

catty

for one catty

The graph which appears on page 19 illustrates very strikingly the rise in the weekly food and fuel costs, which has occurred since the war.

The cost of living for Europeans has risen to a figure which is between two and four times greater than before the war. The main increases are in the cost of food and clothing, domestic servants' wages (which are now approximately five times the prewar figure) and in rents, light and power, and transport costs, all of which have appreciated considerably.

Wages.

Wages for Chinese artisans and unskilled labour employed in European-owned industries and in transport concerns are now largely uniform, and have been determined through a number of negotiated agreements. These rates have also been applied by the Government for its own labour of similar grades. At the end of the year under review these rates, as compared with pre-war and 1946 scales, were as follows:--

AVERAGE RATES OF WAGES FOR DAILY PAID LABOUR.

Daily Paid

(Dockyards,

Utility Cos.

Government).

Skilled Tradesmen

Skilled Workmen

Pre-War

1946 (end)

1947 (end)

(Including Rehabilitation Allowance)

$0.75-$1.40 $0.70-$1.00

$5.00-$6.20

$6.00-$8.00

$4.50-$5.00

$5.50-$7.00

$4.20-$4.50

$4.60-$5.80

$0.40-$0.60

$3.20-$3.60

$3.50-$4.00

Semi-Skilled Workmen $0.60-$0.75

Unskilled

These rates are based on an 8-hour day for 26 days a month, and include the rehabilitation allowance, which for artisans averages $3 per day and for male unskilled labour $2.40 per day.

It is estimated that 28,000 workers are employed on these scales, while approximately 32,000 are employed in Chinese industrial establishments, and 55,000 in miscellaneous occupa- tions such as stevedoring, carrying, etc.

It will be observed from the above tables that there is a wide disparity between pre-war and post-war wages.

The upward tendency was continued during 1947. The same trend can be seen by a comparison of the wages of representative

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