: Extra car fare to be paid for work outside the city limits. Walking time to be allowed, three miles per hour, failing a car service. Men sent out of town, to have transportation paid. Travelling time, regular rate; sleeper after midnight, provided but eight hours time is allowed each day. Foreman shall be a union member and receive at least 10 cents per hour above journeymen's wage. CALGARY, ALBERTA GENERAL CONTRACTORS' ASSOCIATION AND BRICKLAYERS' MASONS Agreement to be in effect from April 1, 1926 until March 31, 1927. New agreement to be negotiated in January, 1927. Hours, eight per day and four on Saturdays. Workers outside the city, not less than 10 cents per hour above minimum rate. Railway fare to be paid and travelling time during working hours. Sleeper when necessary after working hours. No travelling before 5 p.m. Sundays. Time lost on arrival shall be paid unless contractor is not responsible. If return transportation is not available, lost time shall be paid for. Night shift, 7 hours work, 8 hours pay. Overtime, only for saving life and property, time and one-half from 5 p.m. to midnight and Saturdays, until 5 p.m. Thereafter and Sundays and four holidays, double time. Boiler and fire work repairs, not less than 10 cents extra per hour. Overtime, double time. One hour's notice of dismissal or departure of any workman. Disputes shall be referred to a joint committee, settlement to be binding. There shall be no strike or lockout pending this decision. Scaffolds shall comply with the Alberta Government regulation. CALGARY, ALBERTA CALGARY CONTRACTORS AND UNITED BROTHERHOOD OF CARPENTERS AND JOINERS OF AMERICA, LOCAL No. 1779. Agreement to be in effect from May 1, 1926 until April 30, 1928. Agreement for the period following shall be negotiated during January, 1928. Wages per hour, from May 1, 1926 until July 31, 1926, 90 cents; from August 1, 1926 until April 30, 1927, 95 cents; from May 1, 1927 to April 30, 1928, $1. Hours, 8 per day; 4 on Saturdays. seven hours' work, eight hours' pay. Night shift, Eight hours per day, six days per week. Cooks' scale, per week: chefs, $42, second cooks, night cooks, combination cook and baker, or pastry cook, $36; fry cooks, $30. Overtime, $1 per hour. Hours not to be over eight, or spread over longer period than twelve hours in one day. Women cooks' wages same as men cooks. Waiters' scale, per week: counter waiters, eight hours in twelve, $24; eight hours straight, $22.50. Table waiters, eight hours in twelve, $19; eight hours straight, $17.50. All five hours shifts, $15. Short shifts, $12: overtime, counters, 60 cents; tables, 50 cents. Split shifts, 15 cents extra per hour above table scale when working on counter. Banquets (not to exceed two hours): breakfast, $2.50; dinner, $3; luncheons, $2.50; cold spreads, $2.50. Places outside the city (transportation extra, and room and board when overnight), $5. New Year's Eve (eight hours or less), $5. Overtime, 50 cents per hour. Cabaret work, first two hours, $1.50; additional, 50 cents. The union not responsible for help hired other than through the employment bureau of the union, nor for supply of labour during rush season. Complaints or charges against employees shall be made in writing and forwarded to office of union. Relief wages to be same as those of persons relieved. Uniforms to be supplied, employees paying a maximum of 25 cents per coat for laundering. Transportation and Public Utilities-Electricity and Gas MONTREAL, QUEBEC-MONTREAL LIGHT, HEAT AND POWER, CONSOLIDATED, AND THEIR EMPLOYEES, MEMBERS OF CANADIAN ELECTRICAL UNION OF LINEMEN AND HELPERS, LOCAL No. 1. Agreement to be in effect from June 30, 1926 until June 30, 1927, and for one year thereafter, unless notice is given by May 31, 1927 of desire to cancel agreement. Hours, eight per day, forty-eight per week. Work during dinner hour, only in case of urgent trouble. For being called out after regular hours, not less than five hours' pay. Overtime, time and one-half. Sundays and seven specified holidays, double time. In a general reduction of staff, or in promotions, seniority and efficiency will be considered. Grievances may be presented by committees or otherwise to foremen, to superintendent, and to General Manager of the Company. The agreement applies only to permanent employees. Wages per hour, overhead division: linemen, first class, 55 cents; second class, 50 cents; groundmen. 47 cents. Underground division: combination cable spleer and lineman, 61 cents; cable splicers, 57 cents; helpers. 50 cents; cable men, first class, 55 cents; second class. 50 cents; third class, 47 cents. Truck drivers, 47 cents; labourers, 35 cents. FAIR WAGES CONDITIONS IN DOMINION GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS DURING July, 1926, the Department re ceived information regarding various contracts executed by the Government of Canada which included among their provisions the fair wages conditions sanctioned by Order in Council for the protection of the labour to be employed thereunder. Two contracts were awarded in connection with works of construction, etc. (“A” group), the general fair wages clause being inserted as follows: 1. All mechanics, labourers, or other persons who perform labour in the construction of the work hereby contracted for, shall be paid such wages as are generally accepted as current from time to time during the continuance of the contract for competent workmen in the district in which the work is being performed for the character or class of work in which they are respectively engaged, and if there be no current rates in such district, then fair and reasonable rates, and shall work such hours as are customary in the trade, in the district where the work is carried on, or if there be no custom of the trade as respects hours in the district, then fair and reasonable hours, unless for the protection of life and property, or for other cause shown to the satisfaction of the Minister of Labour, longer hours of service are required. The Minister of Labour may at any time and from time to time determine for the purposes of this contract, what are the current or fair and reasonable rates of wages and the current or fair and reasonable hours, and may from time to time rescind, revoke, amend, or vary any such decision, provided that his determination and any amendment or variation shall not be operative prior to the period of three months immediately preceding the date thereof. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Dredging at Port Arthur and Fort William, Ontario. Name of contractors, The Great Lakes Dredging and Contracting Company, Limited, of Ottawa, Ontario. Date of contract, June 25, 1926. Amount of contract: Class "B" $0.35 per cubic yard place measure for the execution of dredging and the sum of $795 for the removal of the temporary pile breakwater at Port Arthur and Fort William, Ontario. Approximate expenditure, $133,535. DEPARTMENT OF RAILWAYS AND CANALS Construction and completion of section No. 4B of the Welland Ship Canal. Name of contractor, Johnston P. Porter, of the City of St. Catharines, County of Lincoln, Ontario. Date of contract, July 28, 1926. Amount of contract, schedule rates, approximately $647,390, estimated from estimated quantities. POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT The following is a statement of payments made in July, 1926, for supplies ordered by the Post Office Department, under contracts which are subject to the Fair Wages policy: Nature of Orders Making metal dating stamps and type, also other etc.. Stamping pads, ink, etc. Mail bag fittings.. Repairs, etc.. Amount of Orders $ cts. 996 23 130 09 11,138 46 759 97 1,155 00 227 70 113 65 1,317 19 Hospital Treatment for Government Employees in United States The United States Employees' Compensation Commission has published instructions as to the medical facilities available to employees of the United States government injured in the performance of their duty under the Federal Compensation Act of 1916. The act requires that injured employees are to receive treatment in United States hospitals. "Where there is no United States hospital or dispensary then treatment is to be secured from one of the designated physicians in the locality. Mere convenience or personal preference of the injured employee will not be considered sufficient explanation for the selection of private physicians, or for designated physicians in those localities where Government hospitals and dispensaries are available." "It is desired to emphasize the character of the services available at the United States marine hospitals. Both the hospital and dispensary services include every medical facility which can be utilized with advantage in each case. Specialists are always available whenever indicated, and a full staff of ophthalmologists, orthopedic surgeons, and neuropsychiatrists, with every facility for examination and diagnosis, are included on each hospital staff." PRICES, RETAIL AND WHOLESALE, IN CANADA, JULY, 1926 THE In retail prices the cost per week of a list of twenty-nine staple foods for an average family of five in terms of the average retail prices in some sixty cities was $11.07 at the beginning of July, as compared with $11.06 for June; $10.49 for July, 1925; $9.91 for July, 1924; $10.17 for July, 1923; $10.27 for July, 1922; $10.96 for July, 1921; $16.84 for July, 1920; $13 for July, 1918; and $7.42 for July, 1914. Prices of potatoes were substantially lower, while less important declines occurred in the price of mutton, milk and dairy butter. Prices of beef, veal, fresh and salt pork, bacon, lard, eggs, creamery butter and rolled oats advanced. Including the cost of fuel and rent with that of foods the total budget averaged $21.30 at the beginning of July, as compared with $21.31 for June; $20.70 for July, 1925; $20.30 for July, 1924; $20.65 for July, 1923; $20.67 for July, 1922; $21.53 for July, 1921; $26.92 for July, 1920 (the peak); $20.66 for July, 1918; and $14.17 for July, 1914. The decline in fuel continued, due to lower prices for anthracite coal and hardwood. Rent was practically unchanged. In wholesale prices the index number calculated by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics, based upon the average prices of 236 commodities in 1913 as 100, and weighted according to the commercial importance of the commodities, advanced to 156.2 for July, as compared with 155.7 for June; 158.4 for July, 1925; 153.9 for July, 1924; 153.5 for July, 1923; 154.1 for July, 1922; 163.7 for July, 1921; 256.3 for July, 1920 (the peak); and 199.5 for July, 1918. In the grouping according to chief component materials four of the eight main groups advanced, one declined and three were practically unchanged. The groups which advanced were: Vegetables and their Products, because of higher prices for grains, flour, rubber, hay and straw; Fibres, Textiles and Textile Products, because of slightly higher levels for cotton, silk and wool; Non-Ferrous Metals and their Products, due to higher prices for copper, lead, tin, spelter, antimony and solder; and Chemicals and Allied Products, mainly be cause of an advance in the price of glycerine. Animals and their products declined, due mainly to lower prices for live stock, butter and cheese. The Wood and Wood Products group, the Iron and its Products group, and the Non-Metallic Minerals and their Products group were practically unchanged. In the grouping according to purpose, consumers' goods were somewhat lower, while producers' goods advanced slightly. The decline in the former group was due mainly to lower prices for butter, cheese, potatoes and tea, which more than offset the advances in prices of flour, foreign fruits and meats. In the latter group materials for the milling and other industries, for the chemical using industries, for the metal working industries, the textile and clothing industries, as well as miscellaneous producers' materials, advanced. In the grouping according to origin, raw or partly manufactured goods advanced, declines in the prices of live stock, vegetables and tes being more than offset by increases in the prices of grains, foreign fruits, meats, hay, cotton, silk, wool and non-ferrous metals. Fully or chiefly manufactured goods were lower mainly because of declines in the prices of butter and cheese. Domestic farm products, articles of marine origin and articles of mineral origin advanced slightly. Articles of forest origin were unchanged. Professor Michell's index number of forty articles, with prices during 1900 to 1909 as 100, continued to decline, being 174.0 for July, as compared with 175.9 for June. The Canadian Bank of Commerce index of the wholesale prices of exports declined from 160.84 for June to 159.96 for July. That for imports advanced from 153.41 for June to 154.89 for July. EXPLANATORY NOTE AS TO WHOLESALE The index number calculated by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics is based upon the prices of 238 commodities, price levels in 1913 being taken as the base, that is equal to 100, the figures being weighted according to the commercial and industrial importance of each article included. This index number has been calculated by years back to 1890, being unweighted. however, for the period 1890 to 1913 and has been calculated by months from 1919 to date for all groupings and from 1913 to date for the principal grouping. Summary tables of the Bureau's index number may be found in the supplement to the LABOUR GAZETTE for January, 1925, January, 1926, and in greater detail in the Report on "Prices and Price Indexes 1913-24," issued by the Bureau. A description of the methods used in the construction of the index number appears in the LABOUR GAZETTE for June, 1923. The accompanying table gives the index numbers of the Dominion Bureau of Statistics by the principal groups in the three methods of classification and with those of the classification according to purpose or use in detail for the current month and for certain preceding dates. EXPLANATORY NOTE AS TO RETAIL PRICES The table of retail prices and rentals shows the prices at the beginning of July of seventy-one staple foodstuffs, groceries, coal, wood and coal oil and the rent for six-roomed houses in some sixty cities throughout Canada. All prices are for delivered goods. The exact quality, for which the quotation is given is set forth in the case of each commodity, and every effort has been made to ensure that the quotations in each case refer to the same class of commodity in order that the statistics may be available for purposes of comparison from month to month, from city to city, etc. The prices of foods and groceries in each city, except milk and bread, are the averages of quotations reported to the Department and to the Dominion Bureau of Statistics by a number of representative butchers and grocers in each. The prices of fuel and the rates for rent are reported by the correspondents of the LABOUR GAZETTE. Statistics similar to these were published each month from 1910 to 1920, the figures during this period being secured at the middle of each month by the correspondents of the LABOUR GAZETTE resident in each locality from dealers doing a considerable business with workingmen's households. From 1910 to 1915 the table contained a list of only the twenty-nine foods included in the family budget, with laundry starch, coal, wood, coal oil and rent. In 1915 when monthly publication of the budget in the LABOUR GAZETTE was begun, it was decided to extend the list of foods to 40, and in 1920 the list of foods and groceries was still further extended to include over 100 items. Beginning with October, 1922, a number of commodities were dropped from the list, and in the case of a number of articles the average prices of the grades most sold have been given, owing to the impossibility of securing prices for uniform grades for the various cities from month to month. Oleomargarine was dropped in March, 1924, the provision for its manufacture and sale since 1917, notwithstanding the Dairy Act, expired at the end of February, 1924. The quotations for rent are the prevailing rates for six-roomed houses of two classes in districts extensively occupied by workingmen. The first class is of houses in good condition, favourably located in such districts with good modern conveniences. The second class is of houses in fair condition less desirably located, but still fairly central, without modern conveniences. The weekly budget of a family of five, calculated in terms of the average prices in the cities for which reports are received, includes twenty-nine staple foods, laundry starch, coal, wood, coal oil, and rent, these being the items for which statistics have been obtained each month and published in the LABOUR GAZETTE since January, 1910. The quantities of each commodity included are modifications of those employed in similar calculations by various authorities. For some articles comparatively large quantities are included owing to the absence of other important items of the same class. For instance, the only fruits are evaporated apples and prunes, and the only fresh vegetable is potatoes. But as market conditions affecting these usually affect the prices of other fruits and vegetables somewhat similarly, the relative proportion of expenditure on the various classes of foods tends to be maintained. At times when the price of an article heavily weighted for this purpose rises (or falls) abnormally the increase (or decrease) in food prices so indicated is exaggerated, and this should be taken into account in using the budget as an indicator of changes in the cost of living. In fuel and lighting the quantities are estimated on a similar principle, anthracite coal being used chiefly east of Manitoba, and soft coal and wood in the western provinces, while no allowance is made for the quantities required in the various localities owing to climatic conditions, nor for the differences in the heating value of the various fuels. It was estimated, when the budget was first published in 1912 in the report on wholesale prices in Canada for 1911, that these calculations represented from sixty to eighty per cent of the expenditures of an ordinary family, according to the total income. For the average family of five the expenditure on these items of food, fuel, light and rent would be perhaps two-thirds or about sixty-five per cent of the total income. While the budget serves to show the increase or decrease from time to time in the cost of the items included, it does not purport to show the minimum cost of food and fuel supplies for an average family in the Dominion or in any one province. The quantities of meats, dairy products, cereals, etc., included were adopted as affording a liberal supply for the healthy family of a man at hard physical work. On the other hand an average family with an income sufficient to do so would buy less meat, etc., but more fruit, fresh and canned vegetables, etc., so that comparative expenditure would be little changed. Cost of Electric Current for Householders* With rates in 1913 at 100, index numbers of electric light rates were 1900, 141.4; 1905, 135.6; 1910, 118.1; 1911, 113.4; 1912, 109.1; 1913, 100.0; 1914, 96.5; 1915, 90.8; 1916, 87.6; 1917, 87.2; 1918, 85.8; 1919, 85.8; 1920, 84.2; 1921, 84.9; 1922, 82.7; 1923, 79.5; 1924, 79.2; 1925, 75.6. Retail Prices June; pound Beef prices continued to advance in the average. Lower prices were reported from many localities in the Maritime Provinces, in Saskatchewan and Alberta, but these were more than offset by the generally higher prices prevailing in Ontario and Quebec. Sirloin steak averaged 31 cents per pound in July, as compared with 30.2 cents in June; round steak 25.5 cents per pound in July and 24.5 cents in June; shoulder roast, 17.2 cents per in pound in July and 16.5 cents and stewing beef 13.3 cents per in July and 12.2 cents in June. Veal advanced from 19.1 cents per pound in June to 19.7 cents in July, lower prices in the Western provinces being more than offset by the advances in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritime Provinces. Mutton declined from an average of 31.4 cents per pound in June to 30.7 cents in July. Both fresh and salt pork showed a general advance, the former averaging 32.3 cents per pound in July, as compared with 30.7 cents in June, and the latter averaging 29 cents per pound in July, as compared with 28 cents in June. Bacon advanced 2 cents per pound, averaging 44.7 cents. Boiled (Continued on page 834) *LABOUR GAZETTE, December, 1923, page 1442. INDEX NUMBERS OF WHOLESALE PRICES (WEIGHTED) CALCULATED BY THE DOMINION BUREAU OF STATISTICS (Average Prices 1913-100) 236 102-3131-6 178-5 199-0 209-2243-5 171-8 154-1 153-5 153-9 158-1 155-7156-2 67 111-6 149-8 215-4 220-2234-4 287-6 178-2157-1 146-8 158-6 170-0173-7 175-8 50 102-5 119-9 155-8 179-4 198-7 204-8 154-6 133-7126-1 119-9 135-1 137-5 135-5 28 97-8133-3 196-8 269-9 281-4 303-3 165-0 175-9 198-6204-7 194-9172-0 173-0 21 94.3 100-1122-4 139-4 171-6241-6 202-5 166-0 178-6 162-5 159-4 155-5 155-5 26 97-7151-8220-2 227-3 201-8 244-4 185-7 149-6 171-8 159-2 151-5 143-5143-7 15 96-2 137-3 146-2 144-2 135-6 137-7 98-6 100-2 95-4 93-1 104-9104-1104 -6 16 94.5 102-2126-0 144-9 163-8 197-5 205-4 187-0 182-8 184-9177-4 175-8.175-8 13 103-0123-1 154-8 187-3 185-4 223-3 184-7 166-1 165-4 154-5 157-8 157-9 139-0 36 8 21 110-6 143-4 207-7 212-3 232-5258-2164-2144-6 123-9 128-8153-7157-8158-9 98.8 107-1136-8 172-5 177-5 173-5 142-3 143-9 130-1 140-5 143-0 150-5 159-9 94-3 100-1 122-4 139-4 171-6 241-6 202-5 166-0 178-6162-5 159-4 155-5,155-5 67 95-8 121-5 153-2 166-1 167-8 196-2 175-6 157-7 158-0 155-6 152-2149-4 149-5 107 104-2133-4 178-4 189-2 206-0244-0 168-4 152-6 144-4 147-9 155-1156-1157-2 129 101-0 130-4 175-5 196-9 204-4 242-0 180-0 156-1 157-6 154-9 159-4 154-4 154-0 Meats, Poultry and Lard. 12 11 Milk and Milk Products. Sugar, refined. Vegetables... 98 101-3 120-6154-0 172-8 191-7 226-1 174-4 155-0 148-2146-4 153-8 160-4 159-7 74 105-6 132-3 177-1193-3 207-6244-4 170-7146-5 143-4 138-4151-6 158-7 157-2 4 101-7 125-2 144-4 197-5 218-2249-7176-0 195-0 222-3235-0 240-2 252-4239-1 8 110-6 144-4214-1 224-4 216-6 261-2 186-9 151-6 136-2 143-9 181-0 171-3 174-0 1 102-0112-0 108-0 104-0 131-6 183-2 109-2 96-0 100-0 96-0 104-0108-0116-0 8 98.8 107-1136-8 172-5 177-5 173-5 142-3 143-9 131-7 129-3 143-0 150-5 150-9 8 101-6124-2149-8 173-5 221-6249-4 218-6252-4216-4 192-7 208-0 164-0167-1 103-7 118-9 163-3 200-8 204-1209-2 152-7 150-6 136-8 121-1 145-7 157-4 159-9 100.0 119-5 149-1 165-1 192-8 203-0167-8 128-7 128-5 125-3 135-1 132-5126-7 2 115-4 171-6 189-6 208-4 237-2408-3 213-3 164-7 238-9 187-5 146-4140-7140-7 10 122-9 210-0323-3 232-3 245-4431-1 170-0 145-8 163-3 179-9 147-4 278-5 271-3 2 104-4 120-0 155 2174-4 197-6 213-1 159-7 106-4 92-2 105-5 123-8114-6 109-4 2 108-0117-6124-9 154-7 204-1 227-0 206-5 206-5 206-5 216-5 216-5216-5216-5 6 99-3 119-6 159-5 213-0 248-4 283-8 186-9 168-7 160-7 159-1 152-0 157-8157-8 96-0 105-8 124-8 146-9 171-6 203-1 179-2 165-5 154-3 156-4 156-7 162-5 162-7 105-3 128-5 156-0 181-3 232-5 260-2 186-3 160-4 164-8 157-2151-7 151-7152-8 13 93.0 98-6114-9 136-0 152-3 185-0176-9 167-1151-0 156-1 158-3165-9 165-9 3 102-8 107-3 145-0 189-1 245-3 323-4 249-4219-6229-1 194-8194-8194-8194-8 3 99-7 203-2224-3 247-4 336-9 490-6 461-6 384-4 302-9 273-0322-7321-3321-3 7 92-9 97-9 114-0135-0 150-6 182-3 174-8 165-5 149-6155-2 157-1164-8164-8 24 11 15 Tools.. 4 146 103-4 130-7 197-4 195-0 206-2241-9 167-3 151-5 147-4 148-3 155-5 150-0 150-9 94-4101-1 126-3 146-0 164-6 197-1206-5 187-2 184-4188-8 180-5182-0182-0 98-1 117-8163-4 203-9216-6 264-5 248-0189-6216-0222-0 204-2204-2204-2 94.5 99-9 123-7 142-1 161-5 194-1 206-4 187-5 184-2 188-3 180-4182-3182-3 92-3 133-2190-4 244-5 242-3 268-6200-5 177.5 185-7 198-4 177-8 169-4169-4 131 104-4 133-9 182-9200-3 210-7 246-8 163-0 147-7143-5144-0 152-8 146-6147-6 32 93-8103-8130-7 150-5 175-0214-9 183-2 163-3 169-4 155-1154-0 148-0) 147-8 14 91-1 92-3 110-7 130-4 163-8206-4 180-0 162-2168-9 151-5 149-9 147-7 147-7 4 102-2159-4219-4264-3 303-2313-7173-3 181-5200-9 187-4 198-6170-9 171-7 14 100-0 128-2 174-2 191-9 192-4 227-7 192-6 164-5 168-1 161-6 160-3 146-8146-0 99 106-8140-8194-9 211-7 218-8254-0 158-4 144-1 137-6 141-9 153-0 146-3 147-5 21 96.2 134-2 195-3 274-1 286-8310-2 157-3 180-4 206-5 212-1198-3 171-1 172-4 2 72-4 83-0 138-2 237-3 445-6 477-5 264-4 321-2 300-0 219-9 231-5 335-7335-7 6 102-8 137-6 167-8 146-6 217-4 176-3 98-0 105-1 95-9 89-6101-889-489-4 27 95-0 145.0 175-8 174-9 155-1 173-0123-2113-4 120-3 112-2116-6112-6113-1 7 110-8 167-9211-5 230-6184-0 208-7 184-8 161-3 154-5 152-7 150-4 160-8164-7 4 110-0120-9 165-8195-4 180-2 186-6 114-3 123-8 105-3 100-0117-9 127-4 121-1 9 114-6 153 8 244-3 252-7 261-7 280-7 177-7 150-7 124-4 152-3 179-4 166-7171-4 23 108-4 138-6 177-3 188-8 209-9 295-8 186-7 155-2 155-1 149-2154-3 151-7154-0 |