ECONOMIC POLICY

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 170, 14 April 1932, Page 8

ECONOMIC POLICY

State Employees’ Protest WELLINGTON MEETING Workers’ Purchasing Power Opposition to the Government’s economic policy was voiced at the meeting of delegates from the Wellington branches of the State employees' organisations which was held on Tuesday evening. The chairman, Mr. E. D. Sinclair, in claiming that effective work was being done, cited the obtaining of signatures to the petition being presented' to Parliament protesting against wage and salary cuts, and the distribution of circulars conveying their protest submitting counter-proposals. It was decided ,on the motion of the Railway Officers’ Institute, to make a strong and urgent appeal to the Government to refrain from further instituting a policy of reducing the purchasing power of the worker, and pointing out that retrenchment had been so severe in some State departments, that thousands of workers had been dismissed. “The injustice of taxing additionally the younger and more helpless members of the State services by withholding annual increments constitutes a breach of contract and the throwing of an inequitable burden on the shoulders of those least able to bear it, which has created consternation and indignation throughout branches of State organisations,” Stated the resolution.

The motion also urged the Government to adopt the measures advocated by the Dominion executives of the organisations represented, and stated that in passing the resolution the State employees were not actuated by any spirit of selfishness, a desire to shirk a fair share of the common burden, or unduly harass the Government. It was decided on the motion of the P. and T. Association to ask the National Allied Executive to hold a public protest meeting in the Wellington Town Hall as soon as possible. A motion from the New Zealand Educational Federation, that special representation should be made to the Government by the National Executive regarding the withholding of annual increments was carried unanimously. Delegates were present from the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, Post and Telegraph Association, Public Service Association, Railway Tradesmen’s Association, Enginemen, Firemen, and Cleaners’ Association, the Railway Officers’ Institute, and the New Zealand Educational Institute. CUT IN WAGES Alternative Discussed PALMERSTON MEETING Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North, April 13. To discuss the Government’s economy proposals and to offer an alternative to wage reductions, a public meeting convened by the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce was held in the Empire Hall this evening. Mr. J. H. McKenzie, secretary of the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association, who addressed the meeting, said that if the Government’s proposals to reduce wages a further 10 per cent, was given effect to, there would be an increase in bankruptcy and insolvency. Mr. McKenzie outlined the currency proposals that had been put forward by the combined Public Services, and said those who advocated the alteration in currency advocated an increase in note issue, but this would not meet the occasion. Banks could not be blamed for carrying out work tliey were legalised to do under the present system of currency. The State should step in in the interests of the people and alter the system itself. The Government could meet 'the present difficulties with which it was faced if it faced these difficulties in the right manner. The Public Service advocated the Government to set up a currency commission to regulate the amount of currency to meet the great 'disparity between production and consumption, and this advocacy was gaining increased support throughout tlie Dominion. The following motion, “That this meeting of citizens is of the opinion that the only way of overcoming the present depression is by restoring the purchasing power of the people by currency reform,” was submitted, a motion which the chairman, Mr. W. W. Fitzherliert, would not accept, as it had a political bearing. When an attempt was made to put the motion the chairman declared the meeting closed. This decision was greeted by booing. A motion of thanks to the chairman, moved by Mr. J. A. Colquhoun, was carried. Several other resolutions were to have been moved.