RETRENCHMENT.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17314, 28 November 1921, Page 8

RETRENCHMENT.

TO THE KDltpft Or "THB PHKS." Sir,—As everyone knows, the bottom has clean dropped out of the produce market; there is no money coming into the eountiy, and yet the Public Servico people seem to think their Ibigh wages and salaries should continue. It would be interesting to know where, the money is to come from to maintain these. It seems to me they have less to complain of than most people, since Mr Massey has stated that their pay will not go back to 19U rates. The producer has to take considerably less than 1914 rates, and seems likely to take it for some considerable tire. If the Public Service men don't like .their Teduced pay, let them get out and try something else; there will he plenty ready and willing to £ll their places, even at the reduced rate of pay. We hear a lot about the education required for the Public Service, but it does not appear to have broadened their views, since they can only look at a thing from one point of view. Our farm employees havo in many cases had but an indifferent education, yet they, have* had tho sense and reason to grasp the situation, and have agreed with one accord to take lower wages. The "cost-of-living" grouse is an old chestnut: if some people had £2O a week they'd, still complain, about tho cost of living. Let some of. the Public Service mencome out on the land and try producing under adverse circumstances (or any other for that matter). I fancy we would see them climbing humbly, back to their comfortable berths, sadder buh wiser men. —Yours, etc., ! PRODUCER.