REVIVAL AND “CUTS.”

Evening Star, Issue 21581, 29 November 1933, Page 3

REVIVAL AND “CUTS.”

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —1 desire to add my congratulations to Mr Janies Hogg, president of the Manufacturers’ Association, for his most heartening address delivered last evening at the annual meeting of the Association. It was pleasing indeed to note the optimism of Mr Hogg when he referred to the outlook for the future. Mr Hogg is stated to have said: “We can look'back over twelve months and point to a definite rise from the depth of the depression and say there has been a steady improvement.” Mr W. Downie Stewart said also, that he was glad to hear the note of confidence struck by the President, by the conference in London, and by Mr Masters. He thought it was warranted from many points of view. Mr Masters, Minister of Industries and Commerce, is reported to have made the following statement:—“l am confident, taking all things into consideration, that there is a good time before New Zealand. We have any amount of money in New Zealand, and what is lacking is confidence, particularly in industry. Money must be made to flow.” I think that every person in the dominion will agree that the three gentlemen mentioned above have struck the right note, for, by all appearances the depression is beginning to lift. This being so, why are the employers of New Zealand making claims for reduction in wages, and big reductions at that? There is every reason that the 10 per cent, cut in wages should be restored, instead of further reductions ranging from 1-J per cent, to 35 per cent, as claimed by the retail employers. 1 trust that the visitors at the annual meeting of the Manufacturers’ Association will be inoculated with the cheer germs that were floating about in the meeting. I note that the Secretary of the Retail Employers was present, as was also the Assistant General Manager of the largest retail drapery firm in New Zealand.—l am, etc., W. W. Batchelor. Secretary Otago and Southland Amalgamated' Society of Shop Assistants. November 28.