IS BRITAIN CONTENTED?

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 89, 12 October 1937, Page 16

IS BRITAIN CONTENTED?

(To the Editor.) Sir,—Ai statement appeared recently in "The Post" to the effect that the alleged prosperity and content among the British working classes were sufficiently pronounced to banish from their minds all idea of emigration at the present time. Britons are supposed to be so satisfied with existing industrial conditions in the Old Country that nothing would induce them to leave England. This statement, Sir, is absolutely contrary to fact. The rearmament policy may have stimulated internal trade there in certain directions, and undoubtedly it has put money into the pockets of many people who already had ample means. But it has entirely failed to benefit some very large sections of the populace, as anyone can learn from a careful examination of London newspapers. For instance, in the "Daily Telegraph" of August 28 last, we are told that "the average hours of British shop assistants are from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on three days per week; on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday or Thursday is usually a half-holiday, when the hours are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m Extra hours have to be worked al Christmas and during stocktaking and sale times. The wages paid range from a minimum of ten shillings per week to a maximum of forty shillings pei week." In other words. Sir, the un fortunate shop assitants in Britain have to work 57 hours per week for wages averaging from about 2Jd to 84d pel hour. Nor are shop assistants the only suf ferers. From the "Leader," a. Lon don weekly,. dated August 28 last, ! quote the following:—"Slowly, toe slowly, wage-cuts are being restored but there are still plenty of industrie: and professions which must come uj to scratch without delay. Many stil lag behind in this respect. In 193: the economic axe descended upon i vast' army of blackcoats, includinj banft clerks and a host of other clerica workers." Sacrifices were called for Yet, six years later, when the causi of the cuts has in most cases disap peared, the wage deductions continue Which is all wrong—just as it is wroni for the Government to continue thi cuts in service pensions, which wen only imposed to meet the dire demand of depression. Employees were happ: to play the game when circumstance called for drastic economy. Now, whei those circumstances no longer exisl employers must also play the game. If the foregoing means anything, Sit it. certainly indicates that a very larg proportion of the British populac ought to be eager to exchange sue! conditions for the comparative!; heavenly state of New Zealand.—l air etc L. D. AUSTIN.