COST OF LIVING

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10614, 12 June 1920, Page 7

COST OF LIVING

RAILWAY OFFICERS’ OPINION. THE PUBI/IC PAYING. The cost of living problem received some attention at the last meeting of the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Railway \ Officers’ Institute, ami it tv as unanimously agreed that the national executive, on behalf of tho railway officers of the Dominion, should strongly urge the Government to remove all Customs duties on the necessities uf life that cannot bo mailufueturccP in this country, or where tariff protection is granted .any industry, provision should he made for tho immediate removal of such protection, if it is in the slightest degree being used as a, means of exploiting the consumers.

During the discussion, certain specific instances were alleged.in which tho people were either being exploited owing to heavy Customs duties, or that they wore compelled to pay for - tho support of industries that wore inefficiently carried on. More than one speaker contended that it would be better to allow such industries to go by the board, under the present unsatisfactory 'State of non-control, and to import the goods that arc at present locally manufactured. The prices needed to bolster Up some, industries, as regulated by Now Zealand's natural protection and the, artificial protection provided by tho Customs tariff were, it was stated, too heavy a burden to impose on Ibo consumers in the Dominion.

SUPERANNUATED CIVIL SERVANTS. rrr rar.ss association. CHRISTCHURCH, January 11. At a meeting of the New Zealand Superannuated Railway ’.Employees and Police Association of Canterbury, the following motion was carried • •“That inasmuch a,s the Prime Minister has expressed himself ns bring in sympathy with the claim pf superannuated rnilwaymon for additional superannuation allowances, we call upon him to translate his sympathy into practical terms.” It was decided to respectfully ask for an increase, of tour shillings per day for members superannuated before the war and since, who have not participated in a War beaus before retiring.