FEARS OF LABOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 29 September 1930, Page 7

FEARS OF LABOUR

MINISTER’S ASSURANCE WANTED. WELLINGTON, Sept. 26. Labour’s fear of the inauguration of a wage reduction .policy by the Government was expressed in an urgent question given notice of by Mr Holland this morning. The Labour leader asked the acting-Prime Minister whether, in v : ew of the deputation which waited upon him yesterday,, demanding wage reductions, he would give the House an assurance that the Government would not adopt the wagp-reducing policy of the Reform Party in the case of men employed on the public, works classed as relief works, and that on the contrary, both in relation to wages generally and standard rates on relief idirks, there would 'be no attempt to depart from the provisions of the various awards and now in existence.

The Minister was further asked whether lie would also give an assurance that before any attack was made on the incomes of the lowest paid members of the community, forger incomes and salaries would be levied upon to the fullest extent. 'The Hon E. A. Ransom replied that the questions raised by Mr Holland were important policy matters upon which he could not expect an answer off hand. He could assure the House, however, that there was no intention of departing from the Ministerial statement/s made on the subject recently. The representations made % yesterday’s deputation, and also those made by Mr Holland, had nob yet received the consideration of Cabinet, and, therefore, he was not in a position to make a policy announcement to the House.