WAGE REDUCTION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 51, Issue 129, 13 March 1931, Page 5

WAGE REDUCTION.

THE LABOUR DEPUTATION. CONTENTIONS BEFORE THE PREMIER. , (Per Press Association). « WELLINGTON, March 12. Over 1000 men, representatives of all sections of the Labour movement,’ paraded at the Trades Hall tc-dgy, and, carrying banners protesting against wage reductions, marched , tp Parliament, where a deputation interviewed the Rt. Hon. G. W. Fofhes on the steps of Parliament House. A crowd of over 2000. were iri_ the grounds. ‘ ‘ ‘ Mr H. E. Holland, ALP., sqid the deputation was from thy open .conference of the Alliance of Eaboury.lt was representative of all industrial e and political organisations of Labour in New Zealand, and w;as : protesting against the wage reductions. Mr A. Cook (president of the Alliance), told Air Forbes that the general labourers would be hard hit if the 10 per cent, reductions were carried. Air Forbes was a New Zealander himself, and die could not-expect New Zealand workers to submit to reductions. The Unemployment Act was a means of smashing Unions and reducing wages. He appealed to -Ain Forbes - to reconsider the decision. The workers would not submit to being lowered to the coolie stage. Air J. Roberts (secretary of iho Alliance), said' the opinion of the whole Labour movement in New Zealand was being placed before Air Forbes, an.l ii were to be j-educed Labour would have its say. Reduced 1 wages would make things worse. Hundreds of small farmers and shop-keepers wxmld be made bankrupt. Labour in Now Zealand was of the opinion, • tnat .the Forbes Government was hutting into effect Sir Otto Niemeyer s advice tp Australia. , ‘ . , Mr Roberts said the conditions m New Zealand) should be considered befor the interests of the .money-lenders. The action of the Government was driving workers liito a peculiar condition—the old saying, “No hope- ho fear”—-and that was the position todav. If wages were reduced the workers would he urged to reduce tiieir ow r n rents accordingly. They were coin <* driven to it ; . Oppression was driving all sections of the Labour movement together. If there ever had been differences, they thanked Afr 1 orhos for wiping those differences away. Air T. Bloodwcrth contended ’ that there had been no reduction m the standard of living, which, wtould wai. rant reduced wages. , j Air Forbes, replying, said ft . was ,no use one shutting one’s eyes tp. facts. The revenue had fallen £29,009,006. Any man in charge of the affairs ,ot the country, if honest and prudent (jeers) would do his best for the Country's welfare. The Government \v as doing all in its .power, and mor: than any other Government. When abroau lie had heard people say: “I wish I could be in New: Zealand” (jeers). In tho rood group, there had been a Ip per cent, drop in the cost of living, ancl there would he a further fad. Surely we all had to pull together (more jeers). The Government was endeavouring to meet the position. At the conclusion, Air Forces’ speech was very much interrupted, the speaker being subject to considerable heckling. ~ | After Air Forbes had finisind, crowd was addressed by Mr who urged the continuation of piuflß gr.nda. The gathering then