U.S.A. CONDITIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 October 1928, Page 6

U.S.A. CONDITIONS

AS SEEN BY NHW ZEALANDER

(Special to ’'Star.")

AUCKLAND, October 9. Air A. Spencer, president of the Auckland Employers’ Association, returned by the Niagara from holiday to the United States. He said that the American workmen admittedly received phenomenal wages, but they were countered by the false standards of living in America. It was no uncommon thing for an unskilled labourer to earn £2 a day, but there were so many inducements to spend money on luxuries that he was no better off than he would be on a much smaller wage in New Zealand. Living was very dear. Clothes and ordinarv household commodities were sold at easily double the price paid in New Zealand. “High wages and the pernicious hire purchase system are ruining the American working man,” said Mr Spencer, “it is astounding the num-; her and variety of goods under terms which are apparently easy, but which surely rob the working man of the money he so easily obtains.’ Mr Spencer said he found that there were huge numbers of girls working in offices who received £5 a week. They lived at home, and yet had to be given allowances to enable them, to dress and live decently. He was astonished to see Ihow little home life there was in the United States. A great number of married women had to work to supplement the earnings of their husbands. They demanded luxuries for themselves, and work to be able to get them. This, of course, ruined home life. The housewife in America rarely thought of cooking fresh food. She bought a tin opener and tinned foodstuffs. Such conditions did not augur well for the future of tTre country.