HARD TIMES CALL FOR STRONG MEASURES

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 42, 12 November 1921, Page 8

HARD TIMES CALL FOR STRONG MEASURES

Sir, —All right-thinking people, and they pre fortunately still in a largo majority, will applaud Mr. Massey’s expressed determination to bring Government expenditure within its diminished income. This will no doubt necessitate a revision and possible all round reduction of the pay of Government employees of al l grades, but when supplies aro cut off as they have been at • the fountain-head by largely reduced prices of all our exportable products, and some rendered absolutely valueless by the excessive demands of Labour, it would be manifestly unfair to the producer to add to or even to continue to exact the same taxation as he has willingly paid in the strenuous times through which we have passed. Everyone knows that necessity has nd law nor does it compel even a Cabinet Minister to carry out promises made at'a time when circumstances appeared to warrant them or make it a breach of faith to implement them. The Arbitration Act is now being made use of as a stumbling-block to prevent much-needed restrictions in the cost of production of all our products, but the current of public opinion is strongly in favour (of ftwee'ping (even *hat “blessed” Act away, as it has' been and still is. the most predominant factor in the increased cost of living, and is blocking the progress of all our industries and promoting unemployment. That and the Saturday half-holiday. I am credibly informed, have been the means of causing the dismissal of no fewer than ten draper?’ assistants' from two establishments in one of our towns, and the 'half-holiday promoted almost solely by the assistants to the groat detriment and loss of their employers is also most inconvenient to their country customers, who cannot now do their shopping on the school weekly holiday, and mothers and children are perforce compelled to stay nt 'home and rely upon hawkers for children’s boots and clothing.

Both the Arbitration Court ond the Board of Trade need a new stock, lock, and barrel, and the general impression is that neither is worth i-epairing and should be delegated to the scrap heap. It is, a parody upon legislation when an employer is prevented by law from coining to a private arrangement with his employee and compelled to eat only stalo buns. jMany country people are now compelled to live largely upon flheir own productions, winch in the case of the sheep farmer is the plain, but sustaining, mutton and damper, while the ’dairyman and agriculturist are content with porridge and milk, in some cases fourteen times a. week. —I am. etc., ' SPERO MELIORA.