WAGES AND HIGH PRICES.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 October 1919, Page 2

WAGES AND HIGH PRICES.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—lt must come as a great surprise to wage earners to find that they can only buy foods valued at 13s 2d on pre-war prices With £1 of to-day's wages. Yet this has been going on for a long time now, but It opens one's eyes to hare It In black and white as stated In Thursday's paper. How any ordinary unskilled laborer can make ends meet with rents high as they are. Is a puzzle to spire. Either he has to lire on the smell of the prorerblal oil rag, or sacrifice the privilege of saving for the rainy day, life Insurance, and the benefits of a friendly society. It cannot be said wages are rising proportionately, for your own, county Is only offering 12s a day to their employees. After deducting £1 a week for house rent, which any reasonable house is worth, it leaves us with £2 12s to prorlde bread, rear, clothe, and educate a .family on. I venture to say that It is precious little of either that the family gets. It makes me sigh and scratch my head. Mr. Forbes, M.P., says boys' boots cost £l, and I say It Is Quite true, and If you hare two hoys to buy boots for, and a girl or two, It tots up. Mr. ilassey hopes to reduce the price soon. Dr. Newman says "cheap boots should be provided," and so say all of us. Sir, can you wonder at industrial unrest all the world over when such miserable pittances are dealt out to toilers, who are expected to live, save money, and buy land and settle down. If farmers and road boards would pay better wages the price of land would be steadied. Mr. £. Newman, M.F„ said that never had employers been so keen on approaching employees In a sympathetic spirit as at the present moment. In my experience I have never had the honor to be approached by my employers, nor has there ever beon In Taranakl a conference of County Councils of Ko»fl Boards and their employees to adjust wages and tonus. Perhaps the members of those bodies are not aware that 12s a day at the present prta is placing a heavy burden on the worker, but are they sympathetic? It Is time we were Invited to a conference and haYe a round table chat on these things. Hoping to hear -of bettor things In tho future. —I ah, etc., i PADDY BANJO. Oct. 3, 1919.