CUT PRICES.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 293, 11 December 1929, Page 6

CUT PRICES.

G. Hampshire's letter is opportune, as it opens up a subject of far greater importance than he imagines. That "a federation of shopkeepers has been formed" is news to me, but I can assure him that I welcome such a.step if it means an improvement in trading, conditions. It is not a question of what G. Hanip. shire or-any other individual purchaser wants, but a matter of justice to-the struggling business men and incidentally, to the wage earner, for if the employer get sufficient profit he cannot, retain the services of his employees, as many readers w.ill have known to their cost already. What is the use of cheap living to the man with no employment?" And Mr. Hampshire, with others'' of his kind, may ultimately' swell the ranks of the unemployed if the existing state of affairs continues much longer, as there are hundreds <of shopkeepers slowly but surely being forced into bankruptcy by insane competition. Has it not occurred to your correspondent that if he and all present wage earners worked without pay how cheap everything would be, but of course the only logical answer would be "it cannot be dono." This is precisely the view business men are now taking, and Mr. Hampshire does not like it because they want an adequate return for their labour. The Arbitration Court usually decides a wage for workers commensurate with the cost of living, and as the latter has been considerably reduced by "cut prices" he must now look for a wage reduction, which is another matter, but one that might make him feel for the business man who has suffered cut after cut in silence until there is nothing left for him. If the business man was in a better position he could absorb more labour, which could in turn circulate its earnings. The employer also would be able to buy what ho now is forced to go without, which would all keep the wheels of industry moving, and Mr. G. Hampshire would have every reason to believe that he had a permanent job and could pay a fair and reasonable price for any commodity and forget that worn-out saying, "These hard times." DUM SPIRO SPERO.