WAGES.

Grey River Argus, 16 February 1927, Page 6

WAGES.

SEDUCTION CAMPAIGN. As forecast cd some issues ago (says the N.Z. Worker) the press has already started out »n a propaganda campaign tor the reduction of wages. The rea sons they put forward for this redue tion in wages is to relieve unemployment. The press claims that if wages were reduced and all the workers agreed to accept a lower standard of living, secondary industries would be established and would absorb all the immigrants into New Zealand as well as any of the unemployed who happen to be in the Dominion nt the present time. This propaganda tale looks very well on the face of it, but what are the facts? We have in New Zealand meat poors, tmtter pools, wool pools —in fact .asso eiations or corners controlling every commodity necessary to maintain life These pools, corners or trusts demanu a certain price for these commodities and unless that price is paid the work ers can go without. If there is a re duetion in wages, there is no guarantee that the juice of these commodities wilt be reduced. As a matter of fact, when 0 reduction in wages took place in 1922 there was no general reduction in tee price of commodities; indeed, some ol them were increased rather than re «lueed. It is, therefore, clear that it wages are reduced the purchasing power of the workers will be reduced correspondingly, and they will be compiled to go without the commodities necessary to maintain themselves and their dependants. The fact is, how ever, that neither the employers nor th’ press which they control has any desire to see the workers in full employment. Tliev are experts in the law of supply and demand, and they know full well that if there is n keen comptition t’oi jobs, that is the best means of keeping tho workers in subjection. This propaganda talk about a reduction ol wages in order to secure emjdoyment for the unemployed is merely an excuse, for if ail the unemployed in New Zealand were absorbed to-morrow the Government in a few months would flood the market with immigrants and create as big an army of tin employed as ever. In 1922 a similar press campaign was started. “Wages must come down.” Every plute politician in New Zealand liecame a lower wage propagandist, and unfortunately many of the workers joined in the chorus. Ihe result was a big reduction in wages and a worsening of the conditions of employment. The Court of Arbitration. the Government and the employers were able to carry out this re duction in wages policy due principally to the fact that there was no unity on the part of tho organised workers of New Zealand. Surely the lessons 01 1922 and 1923 are not forgotten. tt is time then that the Labour Movement of this country recognizes the fact that the employers seize on every opportunity of disunity in the Movement, and will utilise every ngenrr at their disposal in order to create the necessary psychology for a reduction in wages. If thorn is unity in the Labour Movement, and if the workers wilt fight unitedly', not so much against a reduction in wages but for the increase in wages to which they are justifiably entitled, it will be to their interests generally. Let us start then n counter propaganda campaign to that of the plute press, namely’ tor a rise in wages and work or full sustenance for the unemployed of this Dominion.