COSTS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 178, 30 July 1942, Page 4

COSTS

When Mr. W. W. Mulholland told the New Zealand Farmers' Union that 'costs would have to be on a level which would enable New Zealand to compete with the world, either we will have to work much harder and much longer hours, or we will have to work for very much less money wages, probably a certain amount of both," that statement sounded the death knell of the Labour party's policy, which is increased wages, shorter hours and compulsory protection. We constantly hear that until the cost of living comes down wages must go up. Wages is labour's cost of production, whether State houses, food or fuel, and while wages are high the cost of the goods must be high. In the Arbitration Court many successful pleas for increased wages because of increased cost of living have further forced up the cost of living of the people at large. Compulsory protection for a few has been developed at the expense of the whole. To keep up the price of fish many fishermen have been refused licenses. Now, fish heads are for sale in the shop windows. The cost of our daily bread is forced up by a subsidy on wheat. HARRISON.