DAIRY SUBSIDY

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 September 1946, Page 2

DAIRY SUBSIDY

PROTEST BY WORKERS MORE MONEY FOR THE FARMERS AT EXPENSE OF TAXPAYERS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 22. “We see in this transfer a major blow struck-at justice and a major blow struck at stabilisation,” said Mr. P. M. Butler, president of the Labourers’ National Federation, commenting on the statement by the chairman of the Dairy Board, Mr. W. E. Hale, on the Government’s decision to meet the 1946-47 local market stabilisation cost for butter and cheese from the Consolidated Fund. Mr. Butler said the transaction cut away the anchor of stabilisation. It meant that taxes which could otherwise be reduced would be maintained and that other sections of the community would undoubtedly insist cn adjustments. After commenting on the findings of the commission, Mr. Butler said: “We do not blame the industry for accepting ‘the seasoning of justice.’ They would be foolish to refuse the clemency of the Government. Our protest is concerned with the apparent disregard for the policy of stabilisation which characterises this transaction. It appears that where millions of pounds are concerned and where the-people directly concerned can approach the Government, the policy of stabilisation is very elastic, but in cases where a fpw shillings are concerned and where the people affected are the workers appearing before the Court of Arbitration, the policy of stabilisation is indeed very rigid. “A beneficial policy of stabilisation cannct endure in such circumstances. The workers have endorsed and reaffirmed their belief in a properlyconducted policy of stabilisation. We know from bitter experience the cursed effects of inflation and deflation. We consider the blow at stabilisation to be the worst cut of all.”

Mr. Butler said that the farmers should state whether or not they wanted the guaranteed price. They were getting more than the statutory guaranteed price now and this latest transaction gave them something in addition. THREAT OF“APPROPRIATE ACTION” (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 22. Announcing that the Wellington Waterfront Central Committee had decided, to send a deputation to the Minister of Finance, Mr. Nash, on the question of tax on overtime, Mr. E. A. Napier, secretary of the Wellington Waterside Workers’ . Union, said that if satisfaction could not be achieved in this question the unions would be asked to take appropriate action. Mr. Napier said that at a Federation of Labour conference, when the question of the elimination of tax on overtime pay was raised and the workers asked for an increase in their “take home” pay, it had been repeatedly emphasised by the Minister of Finance that excess profits and company taxation was equivalent to conscription of wealth, and on that basis the workers accepted the situation and agreed to increase production to the best of their capacity. “The Government has disregarded the union representation and acceded to the pressure of big business,” he said. watersiderTto approach MR. NASH (P.A.) AUCKLAND, September 22. An announcement that representations would ba made to the Minister of Finance (Mr. Nash) by the national executive of the Waterside Workers’ Union for the elimination of taxation on overtime pay was made by the national president, Mr. H. Barnes, in Auckland to-night. The Wellington Waterfront Control Committee, representing six unions, has also expressed dissatisfaction that the taxation has not been eliminated. A Wellington resolution that if no satisfaction is received the unions should take appropriate action has caused some interest on the Auckland waterfront. The implication is being taken that the’failure of the negotiations will possibly mean the refusal of overtime work.