BUDGET SURPRISES WORKERS

Chronicle (Levin), 22 August 1947, Page 4

BUDGET SURPRISES WORKERS

UNIONISTS EXPECTED RELIEF FROM TAXATION WELLINGTON, Aug. 22. Commenting on the Budget, Mr. A. 'Drennan, vice-president of the New Zealand Watersiders' Union, said the long expressed opinion of unionists generally that taxation relief should be granted had not been heeded, and it was disturbing that this should be the case when the cost of living was rising. Relief was certainly warranted. "One is lost for words," was the comment of Mr. T. Hill, the watersiders' national secretary. He said the workers had rightly expected that the Government would give much overdue taxation reiief. There was every justification for some appreciable concession when the Government had withdrawn subsidies to the extent- of £15,000,000. The Budget would come as a shock to the workers, who were expected apparently to pay higher prices for goods while they continued to meet severe taxation commitments. Another Labour official said the faiiure of the Government to give taxation relief meant that the wage increase claim which was partially allowed would have brought no benefit to the workers. The working population had been exposed within a very short period to a succession of shocks, and in his opinion these would be bound to have considerable industrial and political effects at no distant date. Another Labour offibial thought the Budget was certain to be the subject of protests from fhe trade union movement.