"WHY THIS HUMBUG?"

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 135, 4 December 1929, Page 12

"WHY THIS HUMBUG?"

REFORM AND THE SALARY "CUTS"

Mr. llerr, the United candidate, had something to say at Lower Hutt about the attitude of the Reform candidate (Mr. Johnston) to the .restoration of the salary "cuts" to Civil servants.

"AYe have," he said, "candidates who are now ready to givo the Civil servants anything they ask for. The Eeform candidate says he is willing to give them back the 'cut' in their salaries, or even more than the 'cut,' but you people are intelligent people, and can see through promises of that kind." Eeform had been in offlee during many prosperous years since the "cut" was made. "Therefore, why this humbug?" If Eeform now wanted to restore the "cut" why did it not do so before? The present attitude was "just political humbug and jobbery." There had been opportunities of doing so during years of financial prosperity, but when Mr. Coates handed over to the United Party a deficit in 1928 he called on Sir Joseph Ward to restore the "cuts" out of that deficit. It showed the "colossal impudence" of'the man. (Applause.) Mr. Kerr said he was in favour of increasing the salaries of underpaid men: they were worthy of it, and entitled to it. The Civil Service of New Zealand was second to none. The only way they would get justice, however was to stick to Sir Joseph Ward, because ho would honour tho promise ho had made to consider their claims when finances were stronger. At present the Government had a duty, even before that of restoring the Civil servants' salaries, and that was to find money tor tho 6000 unemployed, who had nothing at all, and the first men to say Good luck" to them in this work would be the Civil servants.' (Applause.) v F