"EQUALITY OF SACRIFICE"

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 72, 26 March 1931, Page 12

"EQUALITY OF SACRIFICE"

(To tha Editor.) Sir,—Reading the reports of the debates in Parliament and speeches elsewhere, I j notice the number of times the term "Equality of sacrifice" is used, especially when the 10 per cent, cut is being discussed. It appears to me that those who use the term so glibly do not understand what it implies, or they would not use it so freely. It is a well-known fact that the depression is caused in New Zealand through low prices of our primary products, therefore the thousands of men with their wives (and children in many cases), who work longer hours than any other workers in New Zealand, could not j put into circulation as much money as usual. The producers of primary pro- | ducts (with wives and children) work from 12 to 16 hours per day in the summer (Sunday as well), daylight to dark in the ' winter. Thousands average 84 hours per j week This year the majority will get j nothing for their labour; in fact, run heavily into debt. Those who paid too much for their land, etc., will probably lose their life's savings. _ The point I wish to make clear is: this hard-working class will get no reward tor at least one year's work. It the Labour members want "equality of sacrifice trom the rest of the community, let them advocate that they work for nothing lor one yeai1 and increase the hours to about b4 nev week. By the way, is it not very unfair that the men who provide the necessaries of life should work such long hours, and others work about « per week' Would it not lower the cost ot living if all workers worked 48 per week at the very least? Would it not make about 9 rer cent, difference?—l am, etc., EX-FAR JVIER.