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Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2431, 20 May 1922, Page 3

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —As your cori’espondent, “Fair Play,” still seems very upset about remarks I was reported to have made at the Council meeting when discussing the pi*oposed drop in wages, and as he has failed to quote a single figure to pi*ove his case, I do not wonder that he has beat a hasty retreat. I again say that the drop in wages is uncalled for locally, “Fair Play” to the contrary notwithstanding. Also he shows his weakness when he wanted to pin me to the last twelve months. He must admit that there is no comparison between wages and the cost of living in 1914 and now. It is freely admitted that eight shillings per day in pre-war days was a better standard of living than now. “Fair Play” seems to think that the cost of living consists in the bai*e necessaries of life, in*espective of medical and other lontingendies incidental to family life. That “Fair Play” only speaks on his own behalf and for his particular business is patent, as even other business men in this town admit that they wei*e more prosperous in pre-war days than now, as it is genei’all.v recognised that the spending power of the wage earner is much more limited now than then. He has failed utterly to make a single point, not even a figure to back him up, he has not answered a single question, why? Mostly the cost of living kept points ahead of the rise in wages, 'when prices of a few lines started to drop, wages also droplied while never having got within reach of the high prices prevailng durng and after the war. Will “Fair Play” tell me why it is that a number of our loral people, and some of them business men, purchase the necessaries of life outside this town? Will he (ell us why a certain business man prefers to dispose of some of his stock for what it wNI fetch by other means than over his \coitbter? Would not it help to sustain his argument in a small degree if he gave his customers the benefit direct and sold it at a reduced i*ale himself. Now, Sir, he has mentioned a very nes}sary article when he mentioned “gas,” as this is a very hugely used article in the house, lighting, cooking, etc., yet he admits that it also keeps up in price, and is also helping to keep up the cost of living. I am sure “Fair Play” must have got rather badly gassed when he failed to get my illumination, judging by his last effort to answer my letter in reply to him. Finally it is common knowledge that those to receive less wages are going to band together and buy out of I'Yixton. Would it not be better to have let well alone rather than this should come about? The saving to the ratepayers which some Councillors made a point of, will amount to some three pounds per week while the sewerage job lasts, which is mainly affected. Let us pause and consider if it is not a penny wise and a pound foolish, insomuch as it does not give a man any incentive to give of his best, when lie sees his hard earned wages whittled away in order to meet the visionary fall in 1 liecost of living for we know full well that what fall there may he will not he to the extent of the cut locally not so far as “Fair Play” is concerned. Thanking you, Sir, for your space in which to correct “Fair Pla ” I remain etc., E. G. MARTIN.