WAGE CUTTING DEVICE

Grey River Argus, 10 November 1931, Page 6

WAGE CUTTING DEVICE

As Relief Work FOR PRIVATE EMPLOYERS. (Special to “Argus.”) . WELLINGTON, November 9. Apprehension was displayed by the Labour members' in the House this evening at the provision in the Finance Bill Amending Unemployment Act, to allow relief work to be done on private property, and also to al Jow local bo)dies to recover the amount as a rate from the owner. The difficulty foreseen by members was thaft, if ordinary work were to be done on private property at relief rates, then sackings would occur, and cheap labour would be secured fdr the execution of necessary wotk. This would bring down tht standard of living of workers. | Air Coates pointed out that the (Board had to approve of work before lit was undertaken. Mr S. J. Howard said that he. for one, would not give a blank cheque into the hands of any Board, when such an. important principle was involved. Pa,rl;iamient was the place to make the laws, and not any Board. Mr McCombs said that this clause in the Bill threatened to drag the standard of living of the New Zealand worker down to the cbolie level. Mr. R. Semple said that the Government’s intention was to allow the local bodies to get work down cheaply without adequate safeguards for the men themselves. The Hous© was dlivided on the clause, wNich was carried by 39 ’ votes to 12.