The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 1931. THE ETHICS Of THE POSITION.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 April 1931, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 1931. THE ETHICS Of THE POSITION.

Xati'kai.i.v there is much Iren comment on the wage reduction now taking place all over New Zealand. There is, however, much more promii.cm e given to the action in Pariianient where a piiulic jjolit yis being formulated. But, already in many walks id die the lull in wages is taking place, and very little is beard of it. There has been a sharp decline in salaries

| and Wages with uA.my local bodies. Particularly is this the case in the , Nor ill Island where local bodies have j borrowed excessively for public works, , and now find a difficulty in collecting | the security rates I'l'tilil tile settlers owing to the slump in prices for thenproduce and stock; Resides, many business liuiKi's and private employers have been forced to go even further than reduce wages and salaries, and have had to reduce their stall's in order to make the weekly pay sheet lit in with the business earnings. These are till natural .safeguards to avoid bankruptcy, and very little is beard of them. More noise is beard about the public service and Government Departments cuts, yet it- is as necessary to avoid national bankruptcy as it is to steer clear of individual bankruptcy. It is, therefore, futile to avoid the real issue, and the necessity for the country paying its way. 'ln Australia where the proper safeguards are not- being fallen there is a financial debacle in Government administration. It is true the position which is so unfortunate for the reputation of the State, is contributed to by the reckless methods of administration adopted by the Labour Government'. which continues to encourage its followers in the conceit that wages can remain as before, despite an empty treasury brought about bv the refusal to meet a situation which lias long presented itself as certainly noproacliing. The public can afford it. their own interests to stud/ the position and weigh tlnaction of those resounsible in Parliament for the shaping of an economic policy of a drastic character at this julu-ture. The revenue of the country has fallen seriously and there is not any immediate prospect of a recovery. Those responsible for the ordered management of the country's finance cannot tit the public interests allow matters to drift. Extra taxation lias and is being put on the people ns a whole, and with what is in sight, the result is inadequate to balance the budget. There must be savings and economies, ttml this reined'.- should be spread as widely as possible. The farmer, business man. and general trader have been called upon already to make groat sa.crifiti'S through loss of income, and others must participa," m the same sacrifice. This is public knowledge and generally appreciated as a result of Dominion conditions, whTh are in time symptomatic of world conditions at large. As the "Wellington Dominion has put it : “Nevertheless, although the Labour Thirty knows all this, and knows that the workers know mid are anxious about the trend, n persists in its opposition to wage re duet ions. Labour members want to save their face, to keep up appearances. even although they hamstring industry and cause increasing unemployment. In Australia their Labour brethren have been engaged in the same dangerous game of bluff and have reduced the Commonwealth to desperate straits, ft is well that New Zealand’s destiny dors not rest in sOYh irresponsible hands. The real interest of the workers—and they know it is to face the facts and make the inevitable readjustments. They should also recognise the unpractical futility of their so-called leaders in pretending that our problems can he solved in any other way.” And if the average citizen will con the position over in the light of this summary, the decision reached will be all tbe better for the ultimate good of New Zealand.