"A FRESH START"

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 73, 27 March 1931, Page 10

"A FRESH START"

LABOUR'S "STONEWALL"

LOWER PAID MEN

■PLEAS K)B, EXEMPTION

Members of Hie Labour Parly showed no signs of kiting up in their opposition to the Finance Bill when the •House of Kepresentatives resumed after 1 ilhe breakfast adjournment this morning. After the debate had proceeded for an hour and a quarter, a division was taken on the amendment moved by Mr. K. Semple (Labour, "Wellington East), seeking to exempt salaries below £325, and this was defeated by 40 votes to 2-1. The Committee then went on to discuss a further amendment suggesting the exemption of salaries below £210. "We are starting all over again, said Mr. P. Praser (Labour, Wellington Central). "We are all bright and cheerful, the Prime Minister is looking fit and well, and will enjoy the animated discussions that are taking place." Mr. Fraser said that he would again appeal to the Prime Minister to exempt tho lower paid Civil Servants. If he could not see his way to exempt the £225 employees, surely he could exempt those on the basic wage, which tvas £i 0s 8d per week, or Is lOd per hour. This was slightly under £210 per annum. J^r. F. Waite (Reform, Clutha): "Knock off the eightpence." Mr. Fraser: "We hope we won't be attacked from that quarter." "There is one thing that the Prime Minister can do better than any other Prime Minister or any other man I fcncV," said Mr. W. Nash (Labour, Hutt), "and that is nothing." Making another appeal for consideration by the Government of the men on the basic wage, Mr. Fraser said: "I would like to express myself in stronger language than the Standing Orders permit." If the Government would make some promise that the lower-paid man's case would be considered, the Labour Party would withdraw its amendments. The opinion of the Prime Minister "as to what constituted a reasonable •wage was sought by Mr. H. T. Armstrong (Labour, Christchurch East), who said the legislation would have the effect of strengthening the Communistic element in the community. The proposed tribunal was a snare and a delusion. "Does the Government realise that It is going to take from the homes of the workers every week 5 quarts of milk, 3 loaves of bread, 31b of meat, and Is for light and fuel?" asked Mr. J. S. Fletcher (Independent, Grey Lynn). He appealed to the Leader of the Opposition to lead his followers into the lobby behind the Labour Party. COUNTRY, NOT PAKTY. "Wo are sick of these phrases of the Loader of the Opposition about 'putting country before party,' " declared the Bey. Clyde Carr (Labour, Timaru). "These statements are an admission that the interests of the country and the party are not identical." . "I would like to say a lew words on the position of the Reform Party," said Mr. D. Jones (Eeform, Mid-Can-terbury). "We have supported the proposal for better payment for the lower-paid men. The Leader of the Opposition made a strong appeal for the lower-paid man during the debate, and in response to his requests the Government has made a concession that a Commission will be set up to deal with cases of hardship. The Prime Minister states that this Commission, will be just as liberal as the Commission which was set up to deal ■with the super-tax proposals. The tribunal that was set up to deal with the super-tax has given relief in cases of hardship, and the same tribunal and the same fair principal has been promised for the lower paid men of the Civil Service. We stand not in opposition to the lower paid men, but we lire working in their interests and ■working effectively." Mr. W. K. Parry (Labour, Auckland Central) said that* Mr. Dickie had wished to give-the single men a smaller wage than the. married men. If he carried out this argument to its logical conclusion he would ask the single farmers to sell their produce, for a lower price than the marrier fanners. "I have never heard of anything more stupid," said the speaker. Tho Leader of the Opposition (the Eight Hon. .7. G. Coates) said that Mr. Parry had always voted previously for tho principle of capacity to pay. It was i! sound principle lhat family responsibilities should be taken into consideration. Mr. Carr: "Single men have dependants." Mr. Coates said that no possible exception could be taken to the proposal of the Prime Minister, to. set up a tribunal to deal with hardship cases. Mr. Fletcher: "Oh,, yes, there can." Mr. Coates: "Tho country is in serious difficulties, Hiid we have to be reasonable. I, for one, appreciate the ma.nner in which Iho Government has mot Iho position." AT POINT Ox1 BAYONET. Mr. Armstrong declared that it was at, the bayonet's point that Mr. Coates h,ad estreated the hardship tribunal concession from Iho Government. It had been intimated tha.l, thore would be a differentiation in the payment of married and single men, and tho Prime Minister had said that £150 was enough for any single man. "There will bo a serious ■ decline in the birth rate in New Zealand if the House has its way," added Mr. Armstrong. "Speak up so that we can hear you, urged Mr. Parry when Mr. Dickie rose to speak. ' Mr. Dickie: "I never thought it •would bo necessary to introduce, soapbox methods here." He, agreed with Mr. Cor.tes that there should be an exemption of 2j- per cent, in the case oJ; men with dependants. Mr. Fletcher predicted that when the hardship commission was operating the Government would not, dare to publish the names of those exempted. The Chairman:' "Tho hon. member must, withdraw that remark." Mr. Fletcher: "T will withdraw.if the expression is unparliamentary." He tv-is of opinion lhat there, would be an outcry from the North Cape to the Blu'ff'ovni- (he matter. In reply to an interjection from Mr. A. Hamilton (Reform, Wallace), Mr. Fletcher made tlie point that the farlucrs had obtained good prices for their products four years ago, whereas the. lower-paid men reveived poor wages all the time. Mr. F. Wnilr. (Reform, Clutha) said the members of the Labour Party were talking along the lines of their instructions from thn Alliance of Labour. They had had little to say earlier, but since the southern mail had arrived they had brightened up, no doubt after learning their latest orders from Mr. Jim Bobcrts, the secretary of the alliance. Mr.-Chairman: "Order! Order!" AMENDMENT DEFEATED. At 10, In a.m. tho House divided on Air Semple's amendment, which was defeated by 40 votes to 24, Messrs.^ Fletcher, Black, Hogan, Kushworth, \Vright, and Young voting with the Labour Party. Mr. Parry .then moved to exempt salaries below £210. The House would

be committing a very grave error If it permitted the basic wage to be attacked, he said. Anyone who voted against the amendment wouM be voting to place the workers on tho same basis as the prisoners in the gaols. "Oh, get outl" interjected Mr. W. D. Lysnar (Independent, Gisborne), as Mr. Parry proceeded to elaborate his point. Mr. Fraser asked if there was to be a deliberate attack on the lowest possible standard of living. The Prime Minister said the drop proposed in the wages of Civil Servants was small as compared with the drop that had taken place in the price of wool and meat. Some of the farmers were just as close to the £4 line as, the workers. Mr. Armstrong: "The sooner tho farmers drop you the bettor." Mr. Forbes: "That is left to them to say." Mr. W. Nash said that, notwithstanding the cut, men would not be retained in the Public Service if there was no work for them. As it was men were being discharged every week. "Is the House aware that instructions have been given for the preparation of- this year's Departmental Estimates on the basis of the 10 per cent, cut, although the Bill giving that authority has not been passed?" asked Mr. Armstrong. He asked for a Ministerial explanation. Had tho action been taken because the Government felt secure as the result of tho bargain it had made with the Eeform Party? (Opposition laughter.) At 10.55 Mr. Carr drew attention to tho state of the House, and the Chairman announced that there was "just a quorum." Mr. Carr asked why the Public servants had not received the benefit of the rise in primary prices in previous years. "The whole thing," he said, "reeks of rank injustice and shrieks to high Heaven. The Eeform Party may bray like asses, as they usually do, but that docs not alter the position." The debate proceeded somewhat dully, Labour members continuing to enter pleas for tho men on the basic Mr. Munro discovered a new title for the Reform Party—the left wing of the Government—and he invited the "left wing" to join with the Labour Party in voting for the amendment. In making another appeal to the Eeform Party to support the amendment, Mr. Munro said he did not want the Opposition to fall into the same trap as the Labour Party. "We were fooled for two years," said Mr. Munro frankly, "and we don't want the Eeform Party to bo fooled in the same way." (Laughter.) The stonewall had reached 67 sitting hours at the luncheon adjournment at 1 p.m. At 2.40 p.m. progress was reported and the House rose, the reasons for this step being stated elsewhere.