TEN SHILLINGS A DAY.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 February 1917, Page 3

TEN SHILLINGS A DAY.

Soldiers Pay oiscussßd Cost of Living Problem. (Lyttelton Times.) A letter from the Pefone Borough Council, urging that all recruits ia New Zealand should be paid 10/ a day, and that measures should b 3 taken to conscript wealth and prevent exploitation, was before the City Council again last nigbt, whsa the By-Laws and Finance. Committee, to which the letter was referred, reported that it had no recommendation to make.

Councillor F. Bnrgoyoß moved that the Petona Oaancil’3 letter should be endorsed. He said that nothing short of a British bomb would ahift the Cabinet. The working man was restricted by regulations, but when the woolgrower or the dairyman struck for a kiglmr price for woo! or chseae, noj thing was said. The Government's reply to the deputation of last Thursday was, childish in. the extreme, for the Ministers had admitted that, they did not know how to tackle the coat of living problem. They were prepared to conscript men and prevent the worker from getting higher prices, but they would do nothing to prevont the “ fat man ” fiom exploiting the people. Speaking with every desire that the British flag should come out on top, he said that there were bigger traitors in New Zealand than any Germans, exploiting the people.

Councillor Scott objected to such language as being unseemly, but the Mayor did not support hia protest. Councillor D. G. Sullivan seconded the motion, stating that all be asked was that the Government should havo as much courage in dealing with the wealth and property, of the country aa it had in dealing with the lives and liberties of the people. The Govern* ment had taken no action except after vhe strongest urging and agitation by the Press and public. The Mayor (Mr H, Hollaud) said that the Council would not be wise in passing the motion until it reoeived the promised leply of the Government to Thursday's deputation.

Councillor H. F. Herbeet Eaid that be had been disappointed with the deputation not because of any lack of eloquence in support of the case, but because of the feeble reply. Mr Allen had stated distinctly that the Government did not control the steamers, and Mr MacDonald had said that the farmers would not accept any price for their wheat, as they would refuse to grow it; and be had added that the public did not understand the matter. The deputation was a farce, and there should be another deputation to press the poi"t. Councillor J. R, Hayward said it was not in the interests of the Empire that such scathing end insulting criticism should be levelled at a Government which was doing its best under difficult conditions to conscript wealth.

Councillor J. M’Gombs said that agitation had already forced the Government to do something, for regulations had already been passed enabling even a single property bolder to get up to £2 a week for rent, interest instalments and other property obligations ; but he maintained that if the Government could make this concession to specially privileged soldiers it was not too much to ask a lesser consideration for the propertyless man, who was at the front protecting the property of bis neighbour. Of twenty millions of war profits the Government had taken only £852,000, although he admitted shat tha money was not all in yet. If anybody was to secure benefits from war profits tha fir3t and probably tha only beneficiaries should be the men who went to the front. Councillor Burgoyne’s motion was carried on the voices.