COST OF LIVING.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15860, 27 March 1917, Page 4

COST OF LIVING.

PENSIONS to soldiers

GOVKRN.M ENT CRITICISED

DEPUTATION TO CITY COI'NCIL

A deputation consisting of Dr. Thacker. -U.P., and Messrs Geo. Witty, M.P., J. B. Struthers, J. L-orinier. and W. Morrison, waited upon the City Council last evening to bring under its notice certain resolutions with regard to the conscription ol men and the Government's attitude towards wealth, which it was stated were adopted at a

"Cost of Living Conference" of "City Councillors, members ol Parliament, and Christchureh citizens.'' held on March lf'tli last.

])r. Thacker said ilio deputation had evolved itself from a conference of members of Parliament, members of the Citv Council, and members of the general" public. Tiicy had worked out tour main resolutions. Firstly they felt the National Government had not taxed sufficiently the super profits which bad been made out of the war, not only lor the present necessities of the soldiers and their dependants. but for the. future. When there was such a surplus of wealth flowing into the Dominion ilie Governinent should earmark myre of it for the needs of the future. .Mr C. H. Elisor had stated that the farmers had been able to pay their taxes out of ')0 per cent, of their.war profits, though several of these had before conic out of their ordinary profits. This proved that war profits should be taxed more. .Lund should be taken for soldiers. The deputation contended tbal the Government should take tin; best land it was possible to buy in close contiguity to the. city upon which schools of say ~A) soldiers should be placed and taught farming;. When thev learnt sufficiently the Jand should be balloted amongst tliem. In regard to war pensions, people objected to accept tlic.se in the form of charity. Tlie soldiers should have the best land, and should gel their pensions by right. .Neither they nor their dependants should have to ask for pensions at all. They I'dt that the Board of Trade' had done some good, but they considered it ■should he given'legal right to fix prices which should not he altered by any purveyor of goods without the consent of lite, Hoard. It was known that the wholesale people held in stock commodities purchased l>v them before the war. They should be made to .sell out at prewar prices, and not until they had to pay more for their goods should they charge, more to the public. The. deputation asked thai the Council should call a public meeting of the citizens of Christchureh to create a strong healthy public opinion which was the onlv thing that would shift the National Government.

Mr It. Struthers spoke at some length about pensions, and Mr Lorimcr also spoke.

The deputation then withdrew. Cr. Hunter moved that the Council deal with the motions seriatim.

The Mayor (Mr H. Holland) said several menvbers of the Council had not seen the resolutions. He favoured delay because it would be some time before Parliament sat.

Cr. Hunter said there was no doubt that the people were up in arms against the Cabinet. Parliament should be called together immediately to assist the Government.

Cr. Cooper said it would be ridiculous to discuss the proposals that evening. Half the members of the Council had not seen them. He moved that the matter he discussed at tlie next mooting of the. Council. Cr. Sullivan seconded Cr. Cooper's motion. The members of the committee had the facts fl t their finger tips, hut it would not he fair to the other members of the Council to discuss them that evening. The Council cwild take credit for stirring up a wholesome public opinion in the matter. When the deputation from the Council waited upon Ministers recently those who supported the proposals were attacked by a section of the public Press which sought to prejudice them in the eyes of the public by stating that they should not hamper the Government at this stage.

The Mayor interrupted Cr. Sullivan by stating that it was not fair to give special credit to one section.

Cr. Sullivan said he would freely admit that, the Council had splendidly backed up one of the main planks in the Labour Party's platform.

Cr. Hayward said he had- been of opinion for some time that the National Government had had something in hand which it was not able to manage. But the Governments in other parts of the Empire had the same difficulties.

Cr. Sullivan said he Avas not casting reflections upon any merr.«bers of the Com;. ' 1 be was "simply answering Press criiici' »

Cr. Cooper's motion was carried