PUBLIC SERVANTS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 February 1931, Page 3

PUBLIC SERVANTS

REPLY TO GOVERNMENT. R FIMA TO GOVKRNAIFNT. (By Telegraph—-Per Press A ssucialion ) WELLINGTON, February IT A com hi ned conference ot the Public Service organisations were hurriedly called on Saturday morning to um-t si ier that portion of the Prime Almister's statement relating to the Public Service, hut at the conciiision of the meeting, no statement was available 101 publication although a reply will probably he issued within the next day or so.

Seven organisations, namely, Rost and Telegraph Employees’ Association, the Public Service Association, the Education Institute, the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, the Ra Iway officers’ Institute, the Engine Drivers’ Firemen’ and Cleaners’ Association and the Railway Tradesmen Association was represented at the conference. A sub-committee, consisting of a representative from each of the organisations mentioned was.set up m prepare a reply to the Government’s proposals, the Sub-Committee wil 1 report hack to a further conference, after which the former’s reply will probably be released for publication. WELLINGTON, February H. A conference of Associated Chambers of Commerce, Farmers’ Union and Sheep Owners'! Federation representatives' and Alliance 'of Labour representatives, opens on 'lliursday. Until this has been held no opinions will he expressed by these bodies on Mr Forbes’s announcement. TRADE UNION VIEWS. DUNEDIN, February M. The spokesman for three trade unions referring to the Government’s new policy, said that the bottom dog was being eomnellcd to make a sacrifice while, on tile other hand, there was only an appeal to the mortgagees and the money interests to reduce their charges. The prounsal to review the wages awards is regarded as a breach of faith, and as the suspension of a contract. It was a case of compulsion for the workers and is only a request 1 to the monied classes. ( .. I SHOPKEEPERS WILL LORE. | DUNEDIN, February 11. | A shopkeeper staled that there would now he less'’money circulated as the result of the wage and salary reductions, and the smail stores would stijfer j The shopkeeper said that it, was not j likely that Air" Forbes’s appeal to the money lend rs to ease their charges would he acceded to. I’Of; iA L I NCR EASE DISLIKED. I DUNEDIN, Fobraury I I. Expressing the Manufacturers’ Association's view of the Government’s financial 'proposals, the President. Air Kimlley, congratulated the Prcmi'" 1 “on relinquishing the false position ol ina ntaining wages abo\e an economic level. He stated, however, that it was not a sound policy to increase the postal charges, which seemed to lie m contradiction of the professed effort to reduce overhead charges. (TiAAI IJERS OK COAIE.MRC E. WELLINGTON, February 11. 'I lie Associated Chambers of Commerce Executive and the Central Committee have written congratulating .Mr Forbes on the courageous, frank statement, and saying he “may rely on the support of Chamber and the business community •generally in an endeavour to meet and rectify the difficult financial position into which the couutrv has drifted.”