HIGH SCALE OF WAGES

Hokitika Guardian, 3 February 1931, Page 7

HIGH SCALE OF WAGES

MR FORBES’S VIEW. A REDUCTION INEVITABLE. PAST EXPENDITURE CANNOT BE MAINTAINED. WELLINGTON, January 30. A deputation from tlu* Alliance o>f Labour, consisting of .Mr A. Cook president of tlic. General Litliourcrs’ Onion .Mr L. (Movin', vice-president of tliu Alliance of Labour, .Mr I*. Butler, secretary of the General Labourers Onion, .Mr R. K. Walsh, presiilcnt of the Federation of Seamen, and .Mr G. Grayndler, as one of the unemployed, waited on the Prime .Minister to-day. The Minister of Railways, the Mon. W. JL Taverner, and the Chief Engineer ’ of the Public Works Department were present.

Mr Cook spoke on behalf of the man displaced on railways construction works. There were, he said, between 300 and 400 men in camps in isolated places, practically living on the charity of residents and local institutions, and helpless to secure work in the vicinity. Further, where transfers had been made, single men were left in camp, while the wives and families of married men who had been transferred were left behind without protection or means of livelihood. Mr Butler said that while under the Unemployment Act men had been promised rcljef or sustenenee, many of them were out of work and nearly starving. He went on to criticise the Unemployment Board’s work, saying that under No. 2 scheme it was the employer and not the men who received the benefit. He thought that local bodies had benefited more by the assistance given by the Government than had the unemployed. MAR IMF!) WOMEN IN CAMP. The Prime Minister said he had been entirely unaware of the fact that married women were left in camps from which the married men had been removed, but he would see that something was done to remedy the position. Something would he done in the way of providing accommodation in tents for mnrriml women and children or. jobs where their men were. In regard to the employment of single men at the present time, there were from 17,0(10 to 18,000 men out oi work m New Zealand. “As Minister of Finance,. 1 have to see that tlm money available for carrying on the public works of this country is spun out to the utmost,” lie said. “If wo are to employ more single men we must put oil married men. It is going to be extremely difficult to raise loans. Confidence has been disturbed throughout the world, and to get money to carry on the public works of the countiy is going to lie exceedingly difficult, Wo must see that whatever programme is put on is carried out U a finish. Wo must not put- ourselves in the position ol having later on to close down everything. “Wo are endeavouring to the utmost of our financial resources to assist too men who require assistance most. Wo are not going to see anyone starving m this country,” said Mr Forbes. “When a man is without food he wili do anything to get it. I know I would. But those, who complain of having to work to get it do not show the spirit I believe in. With regard to work under tin’ Unemployment Fund there is only a certain amount of money Local bodies have told me they have undertaken works in a larger way than they would have done if it were not for the purpose of assisting the unemployed. There is a limit to their finances as well as to those of everybody else. A GREAT CRISIS. “We are up against one of the greatest crises this country has ever faced, and it is only by wise and prudent administration we trill lie able to come through it without a very great deal of tribulation. The first thing is food. T understand that hospital and charitable aid boards are doing the best they can in a most trying situation. T can assure you that the Government will do its best to meet everyone. My opinion is that this country will come through with a minimumoif hardship, but anyone who thinks we are going to do that with a high scale of wages is living in a fool’s paradise. With .£20,000,000 less coining into this country with the drop in wool how can anyone think we can carry on the enormous measure of past experience? I have discussed these things with men who have dealt with the same problems for years, and there is no short. I cut.”

Mr Butler: Except a cut in wages

Mr Forlies: 1 have discussed that question with Labour men in other countries, and tlmv have not been able to give me any remedy.

Mr Cook: Reduction of wages will not meet the. case.

Mr Forbes: Ii it not a quest ?t>n of reduction of wages or reduction of staffs? That is what it amounts to. If you have not money how can you nay it? How can a farmer keep a man working when he cannot pay his grocer’s hills 9