TO SAVE WAGE CUT

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1932, Page 5

TO SAVE WAGE CUT

PUBLIC SERVANTS’ PROPOSALS. FOR TEMPORARY RELIEF. (By 'J'eleyruph — I‘er tress Association } WELLINGTON Feb. 24. The executives of the .si.ruce organjsiitioiis in the Post and Telegraph and Railway Departments have been , giving special tonsideraLiun to the j general economic position, with the M actual and probable I'titiAe effects upon the State. Mr \Y. F, Kent Johnston and the General Secretary (Mr J. H. McKenzie) of the Positi and Telegraph Employees’ Association, stated that for the past ten days, a representative deputation from four organisations, the Post and Telegraph Employees’ Association, the Railway Tradesmen’s Association, Amalgamated Society of Pailway Servants, and the Locomotive Engineers, Firemen and Cleaners’ Association unsuccessfully endeavoured to meet the Prime Minister for the purpose of submitting a number of proposals as alternatives to the wagecutting policy. In view of the failure to secure an appointment, it was necessary that certain delegates sohuld return to their homes, therefore it has been decided to forward a written statement to the Special Economy Commission.

The memorandum states that in consideration. of efficient and useful services they render, further inroads in the economic position of public servants should be the lust- resort of the Government faced with difficulties in balancing the budget. The Association directed attention to the following points which it contended would offer the Government temporary relief without hardship of a wage reduction;— (1) [ssue of Treasury Notes as legal tender to a limited extent, not greater than the Pudget deficit, or preferably. (2) Control of currency by a central hank, or a currency and exchange booh’d, having statutory instructions to use the recognised machinery of the central banking In order to main-j tain our local price index within ren- j sonable limits, such hank or hoard he ' the only issuing authority in the Dominion. (3) Mobilisation of gold. State monopoly of gold purchase, and utili-spt-on nt overeat: u-old reserves. (4) Closer land settlement policy. (5) Reduction of Government’s interest bill bv collection of income tax half-yearly. Should these proposals not find favour, the memorandum submitted alternatives which should more evenly spread the burden of sacrifice still without recourse to further wage reductions. (6) Flotation of a fresh internal loan at a lower rate of interest, to be popularised to the greatest extent b,y the Government. (7) A conversion loan and conversion of tax-free bonds to taxable bonds. j (8) Reduction of interest rates and rents by legislative enactment