BASIC WAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 50, 28 February 1931, Page 9

BASIC WAGE.

Husband and Wife With Child Endowment. v N.S.W. STANDARD. (Received 11.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. The State Labour caucus has approved of the. Cabinet's proposal that the basic wage be fixed on a standard for husband and wife, supplemented by an endowment for each child. GENERAL STRIKE. DECISION ON MARCH 3. (Received 11 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. Newcastle trade unionists on March 3 will discuss, the declaration of a general strike throughout Australia. LANG'S ACCUSATION. FEDERAL REPUDIATION. SYDNEY, February 27. The Premier of New South Wales, Mr. Lang, to-day accused tho Commonwealth and the other States of repudiating amounts which the New South Wales Government had spent on their behalf.

The chief item in the account for £737,733, which his Government had submitted to the Commonwealth was £305,216 -which New South Wales had paid out in redemption of closer settlement debentures. That item was purely a Loan Council debt and that body had now repudiated it.

In the course of a statement 3 Lang said: "Two courses are open to Australia. One is to adopt the' New South Wales Labour plan, informing our creditors of our inability to pay, and making an honourable settlement with them.

"The other course is to drift along shouting: 'We can and will pay our debts,' knowing that we cannot, until the inevitable Black Thursday arrives. Then, not only principal and interest will have to be repudiated, but finance for ordinary Government services will not be available."