THRIFT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 106, 7 May 1942, Page 6

THRIFT

In your issue of the 4th instant on "Thrift," "Another Who Knows" quotes from our late leader, "What do you want to save for? We'll look after you in your old age." Let me tabulate a few things, good and bad, that have been done. The oldage pension originating with R. J. Seddon has been altered, and universal pensions are granted to persons who do not need them. Wages have been enormously increased, so have rents and the cost of living, which offset the pension benefit. Fishing licenses have been refused to keep up the price of fish. Fish is now almost unobtainable in a place abounding with fish. Fruit and eggs have been almost regulated off the market by Act of Parliament. Piece work, or payment by results, was abolished, and when Mr. Webb changed his mind it was reinstituted at Blackball. The Arbitration Act has been amended, and strikes have been of daily occurrence. The 40hour week has resulted in less production and less prosperity. The Moratorium Act has frozen capital, and trade has been crippled. The Fair Rent Act has nailed down the rents of houses, while the cost of living has soared up, and people on fixed incomes are hard hit and many have become burdens on the State as pensioners. The Federation of Labour and the Labour unions are now the bosses and not the servants of the toilers.

HARRISON.