PROTEST REGISTERED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 46, 29 April 1942, Page 5

PROTEST REGISTERED

COST OF LIVING BONUS SHOULD BE MADE GENERAL Strong exception has been taken by the Whakatane County Council to the fact that the newly authorised cost of living bonus, is limited only to workers who are receiving less than £5 weekly. After discussing the* matter yesterday it was decided to write the Government protesting against the increase which it was maintained should have been made general. The chairman, Mr J. L. Burnett, said that it was unfair to legislate for only one section of the community. Either the increase should be all- round or not at all. Cr McCreadv contended that no protest or objection would have been raised to a movement to make an increase in pay to the men with the fighting forces or to their dependants. They belonged to the Army and had no method of protest or strike such as civilian workers had. Yet the very Government which prided itself on being the father and mother of the man on the bottom rung had forgotten all about them. It was a wicked shame to overlook (he soldiers' wife who was battling a'ong on a pittance by herself to maintain a home and at the same I >.me to increase the pay everyone else in the country who could help themselves already. Councillors endorsed the abeve opinions and the resolution was carvied unanimously.