COST OF LIVING

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 6, 2 October 1917, Page 8

COST OF LIVING

4 . A CIVIL SERVANTS' DEPUTATION AND A REBUKE A deputation of Civil Servants, with reference to the cost of living, waited on the Prime Minister yesterday morning. Tho Press was not admitted. The spokesman for the deputation was Mr. Allport, Secretary for .Marine, who read a long typewritten statement critrcising tho Government for its alleged neglect to deal effectively witli the situation, outlining a policy for the consideration of the Government, and suggesting that Civil Servants who havo gone to tho front should have their pay made up to tho pay they received nrior. to enlistment. Before Mr. Allport had proceeded very far with his lecture, Mr. Massey sharply intervened, making it quite plain that he disapproved of the tone adopted by the deputation's spokesman. He reminded the deputation that the Government was responsible to the country for its legislation, and administration, and that it could not permit tho Civil Servants to dictate its policy. Mr. Massey dropped a significant hint that Cabinet might soon find it necessary seriously to consider the advisability of reducing tho staffs of some of the Departments. Mr. Massey then requested Mr. Allport to proceed with his statement. As regards the cost of living, the deputation suggested that the primary products of the country.should.be sold to tho consumer at reduced prices, and tho balanco made up from the Consolidated Fund., Tho Prime Minister stated that the financial conditions which at present prevailed made it quite impassible for the Government to luake all the concessions that were being asked for. In a time like the present every section of the community were expected to make sacrifices. _ Instead of djseouraging production. as file adopted proposals of the deputation would do, everytlijng should be done to maintain production at tho highest level. Mr. Massey said the pnl>lie could obtain m»nt from the stores at the same price, including storage, as was being paid by the Imperial authorities. The deputation complained that tliey had not been given an adequate, opportunity of placing their views before tho Cost-of-Living Committee. It appears, however, that . the Civil Servants were not content to send representatives to give evidence, but asked for the special privilege of apnointing a representative . to attend the sittings of the committee, with the right of cross-examining all otljer witnesses. The committee declined to agree to them.