CORRESPONDENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 66, 19 March 1931, Page 12

CORRESPONDENCE

COUNCILLORS AND CRITICS

(To thß Editor.) Sir,—Councillor; Mitchell's reply in tonight's "Posit" to my two letters closes his correspondence without even attempting 'to answer one single question or criticism which my letters invited. Had Councillor Mitchell devoted one quarter of his space to that object instead of. trailing the proverbial red herring as he has chosen to do, electors would probably have been ■at least some little wiser, but apparently I must conclude that he .has no answer to give to the few facts and questions put forward, from which citizens can draw their own conclusions. Such references as "liars," "entirely false," etc.,. are solely the products of Councillor Mitchell's vocabulary, but still facts are facts, which sometimes demand recognition and explanation. I regret that so far I have been unaware of the appointment; which Councillor Mitchell states has been conferred upon me, nor.i was I aware that the City Council had been forced to expropriate the homes of prominent members of the Ratepayers' Association. —I am, etc., ■ ■ •: ■' > ' ■ ■'.'-■ E. BOLD. 17th March. ....

INDOOR WORKLESS

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Good work has been done by the Unemployment Board for a certain section of the unemployed under the No. 5 Scheme, for which those who are able to participate will be truly thankful. Now, a large portion of the unemployed consists of indoor tradesmen, a good number of them not robust enough to endure, two or three hours' pick-and-shovel work, let alone two or three days. The result has been that these workers are still looking forward for something to be done. They are met with the same reply each day: "Nothing doing yet." Still these men have had: to pay the quarterly subscription under the Unemployment Act. Is it not time that some scheme was put forward that would give them a certain amount of relief, as many of them are in very poor circumstances through being out of work for many months. Mr. Forbes said .'-in his .reply, to a deputation a few weeks back'that no one would starve in this country, and if anyone was starving \ their names should be handed in to him.! Charity is the last thing desirjed by any conscientious man, especially a food dole. Far better to pay sustenance where the j board is unable to supply relief work to those willing to work. Men born in this country have given their best in honest toil and spent the last shilling of their savings during the months of enforced idleness.—l am, etc., ■;■ ' WILL WORK. [The Unemployment. Board states, in reply, that while it has. every sympathy with the correspondent, it cannot provide clerical or other indoor work. If his circumstances'are such that payment of the levy is a hardship, he should apply to the board, for exemption.] ■ ; i

REDUCING COSTS v A

(To the Editor,) Sir,—The Civil servant is very indignant at the suggested 10 per cent.'"cut" in wages. I should-.like to emphasise the fact that the "cut", .has been applied to the whole of the people of New Zealand outside of the Civil servant-and a' %num-. .ber of people working under Arbitration: awards (who have not lost their billets), for. a period of' twelve months, where it has not been more.' It is safe to say that the whole, of the business' and professional community, together with all farmers, had to suffer a serious' diminution in. - their earnings during last year and this year, and that reduction is becoming more and more pronounced. . There has, however, been a considerable easing in' living costs, particularly in rents, meat, butter, cheese, and other foodstuffs outside '• of i bread. The Civil-ser-vant has already ;• participated'in,.these decreases with the rest of the community, but asserts loudly that he is being specially penalised.; As 'a. matter of fact, the Civil servants are amongst the very, few who have actually benefited by the slump. Their wages were fixed ' during the boom period by their employers (the public) on what was then considered a basis equitable to the wages-and salaries then existing, taking into account the amount of brawn or brain required for their respective positions, and also the many privileges the Civil servant enjoys compared with the rest of the community. Only a very small percentage of. those-in private employ have escaped the. axe, and thousands have lost their employment altogether, ajid thousands of others are getting half-time and less. To enable the. big .percentage of the people who are in a worse position than i the Civil, servant to-live decently it is! necessary to reduce all costs, and one of this country-'s heaviest cost is the Service's Salaries and vwages.:. We are told by the Labo.u'r Socialist;1 that;labour.produces all wealth, therefore labour cost must be the basis.of all costs of production, and as it is generally .agreed that the cost of. living is too high," consistent with our low, produce^ prices, it is obvious that all labour costs must.be reduced. Given, this and a reduction in; interest: rates, our farmers, who although notgenerally large employers, are dependant . upon lower costs of all commodities1 which they m common with the. wage-earner 'require to live; will have a very much better chance to carry: on and: produce the goods which enable 'the whole' of the peonle of New Zealand to obtain; a livelihood;. As a means of reducing interest, rates I Would suggest the exemption from ■ income tax of all moneys which earn only 4% per cent. ,and that the State should tax.l fiftyfifty, all earnings ; from investment or mortgage over 4% per cent. This would provide a solution'of the vexed company tax, and largely balk the hungry moneylender who preys 'on,- the unfortunate in slump times like, the, present.—l am,: etc., /.' \'- :'i A-PRODUCER.

ADAMS TERRACE FIRE

(To the Editor.) ; Sir _i wisli to compliment the Fire Brigade on the manner they controlled the late fire in Adams terrace. It has been said the water supply" was bad; that was not so. The difficulty was the awkwardness o£ tlie situation; that part or tne. Terrace is very high" up and is backed on to a 10-foot right-of-way, as shown on the city plan, tor: which we m fairlie terrace are highly rated, and which at present is overgrown with gorse and shrubs and appears to be a real dumping mound to all sorts of rubbish—a real disgrace to the residents of Kelburn Owners of empty sections should be made to clean the gorse, which is a menace to the neighbourhood/ I do not know who is responsible for the upkeep, of this, right-of-way, but something should be, done, and a visit from our. City Inspector would be greatly appreciated by all living in the district. -la^?tC- RATEPAYER. Referring to the fire in Adams terrace, j Mrs. P. M'Cormick writes: 'As an interested party, I can, only state that from the time the alarm was given until the fire was under complete control was remarkably short: When it was spreading from the rear1 of 48 to No. 50 a bucket brigade from No. SO (occupied by myselt) was driven out of the house, and it looked a certainty that both houses would go. it was then that the brigade got busy and to such good effect that we were all back in the house in less than five minutes and all danges at an end. It was a magnificent save and a splendid piece of concerted work by the firemen, and I have nothing but admiration for these men.

"Fair Play" protests against conditions suck as are exemplified in the case of a woman who admitted holding two jobs and earning£3 weekly while her husband was in constant employment and earning £4 15? "I for one have not been able to get a position since before Christmas, and as I have two children dependent on me I find it very hard. In the interests of mv fellow-employees and sufferers through want of employment, I urge that something be done to prevent these women from obtaining two positions whilst others are starving."