Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. MONDAY, APRIL 11th., 1932. WAGE & PENSION CUTS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 April 1932, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. MONDAY, APRIL 11th., 1932. WAGE & PENSION CUTS.

*pHREATS that they will fight

the Government’s “cut” proposals at every possible stage, were made by the Labour Members of Parliament on Friday when the National Expenditure Adjustment Bill was introduced. The week-end gave them, and all others interested, an opportunity to study the proposals closely, but it is doubtful, if any such meditation by the Labourites was of an unprejudiced character. It is to be hoped that the general public will be fairer-minded, and give the Government its due quota of consideration.

Everybody will share the regret that “cuts” in wages and pensions should be necessary, but those condemning the Ministerial proposals must supply something equally practicable in their place. Mere denunciation and popularity-seeking oratory are easy, but will do nothing to assist the country to overcome its present financial difficulties, which, it must not be forgotten, are partly due to past national extravagance, and if left untackled, will become too strong for mastery. That would mean national bankruptcy. When a.nation goes bankrupt, it is rarely that its creditors are sympathetic, eager to,

assist the -fallen ’to make a fresh [ start. Perhaps the Labour Members will reveal to the House, this week, the secret they have hitherto preserved, of what they would do if they had the responsibility of adjusting national finances. When the details of the Labour plan are known, it will be possible to compare these with the Ministerial proposals. But Labour must not mistake airy phrases for practical details. \ The civil service wage-cuts and suspension .[of wage-increases are serious to those affected, and due sympathy is forthcoming, but it is doubtful if the nation, generally, is really “indignant” about the matter. Civil servants have still much to be thankful for. Regular jobs and regular salaries may be regarded as blessings these days, and as the public services, for the most part, get special allowances from retailers, a wage-cut is not so arduous to them, as it is to the non-State employees, who get no concessions, and whose earnings are often intermittent. Hotheads in Auckland and other cities are urging aggressive measures on the part of State employees, but that policy would prove disastrous to them.' They should not place too much reliance on th?' manner in which “petitions” were signed! It is seldom difficult to get signatures for petitions no matter what the object. Those businessmen in Auckland signing the petition against a wage-cut, would be the first to yell, if to maintain the . higher wages, their income tax, or other payments to the State, were increased.

Where the cut in pensions are concerned, public sympathy will be more wholehearted. True, pensioners may have benefited by the recent falls in the cost of living and rentals, but the amount of money received was never large, and most found it difficult to keep the wolf from the door. The cuts in pensions, small as they may be, will add to the difficulties of an already harassed class, and it will be the national wish that the Government should make the restoration of pensions to former levels, their first aim, when the state of. the Treasury permits.