COST OF LIVING.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 May 1918, Page 2

COST OF LIVING.

RAILWAYMEN'S RESOLUTION. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Timaru, May 13. The local branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants unanimously resolved: "That the Timaru branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants calls upon Mr. Massey to do his duty and protect the workers from further exploitation at the hands of the monopolists; that in view of what the National Government has done Mr. Massey's statement, reported in The New Zealand Times of April 12, wherein he is reported to have said there were many things which he had not done that would be done, and further 'I am strongly of opinion that wo must do our duty,' is so much hot air, considering the words emanated from the Premier of the National Government, which failed in every instance to do its duty to the workers of the Dominion, notwithstanding the waste of public money and the setting up of a commission which failed to attain its object because its recommendations were ignored by the Government. In the same speech Mr. Massey called upon the people of the Dominion to make greater sacrifices during the present crisis. We hereby call upon the Government to deal with the cost of living problem before asking the workers to make greater sacrifices. It is most deplorable that a member of the Government should make such a call upon the workers whilst a responsible Minister like Sir Joseph Ward is endeavoring to bleed the Imperial Government (see Lyttelton Times, May 13) by asking them to pay cash for frozen mutton lying in the New Zealand refrigerating chambers, which would only benefit the big man. This constitutes scandal, emanating from a Minister who calls himself patriotic, when the same Minister absolutely refuses justice to the wives of the Second Division. Sir Joseph Ward should put as much energy into finduig ways and means of paying the wives of Second Division members a living wage as getting the Home Government to pay four million sterling for the benefit of a few."