REDUCED WAGES

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10377, 7 April 1927, Page 6

REDUCED WAGES

UNEMPLOYED BELIEF MORKS

GOVERNMENT NOT RESPONSIBLE.

“1 if/.-, better than nothing.”

? • WELLINGTON, April 8. In tlio course of a reply to a deputation to the Government to-day, which drew attention to the depression in the timber industry, and uig* cd the imposition of higher duties on imported timber, tlie Premier, the Hon. J. G. Coates, referred to a remark which liad been made by Mr * • Furtoy, secretary of tho Timbei Workers' Association, to the _ ettept tnat Da and llis a clay was lair pay lor the unemployed workers engaged on works, arranged temporarily to meet their needs. Mr Coates gave an absolute denial to the suggestion that he was concerned in the cutting down or wages. The policy of the Government was to maintain the stanunrd of living, and there was only one way of doing that, and that was by increasing the output per unit. \v line we were up against dilliculties, it u a matter lor everybody to get at it lor all they were worth. It was necessary, in the present circumstances, for everyone to give a better return. If they could do so—he did not say that could be done in every case-but where it was possible it was ant that a better return should be «r o t, in order to meet the present Holland, M.P.: “Do . you suggest that 9s a day can keep a married man and his family. The Hon. Mr Coates: ‘‘l suggest that a man who is unemployed is very much better off with 12s- a da ythan he would be with none. We aie doing all that we can to meet the position.”— P. A.