RESTORING CUTS

Grey River Argus, 19 June 1936, Page 5

RESTORING CUTS

AS FROM JULY 1 Government Determined (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 18. A reply to doubts which have been expressed in certain quarters regarding tho Government’s intentions to restore to the full all of tho wages ami salary cuts as from July Ist, was made by the Primo 'Minister to-day. “This legislation will |,e passed as soon as Parliament meets, and it will bn n’lrosp.cct'. Vc to July Ist.’’ he said. Mr Savage recalled the statement which ho made in the House earlier this month, when ho said that, during tho recess it was tho Government’s intention to prepare legislation for the restoration of the wages cuts in the publ'c service, the salary cuts, and pensions, as from the beginning of July.

“I said that deliberately, so that the employers of labour would know what to expect, and would not have any reason 'for saying that we “sprang” something on them'.” he said.

ft was the Government’s intention to restore al] of the cuts male during the depression, he said, which, in effect, would bring the wage, salary and pensions level up to that of 1931. “We are pledged to do more than that,” said Air Savage. “We are pledged to make available to the people the benefit of every increase in production. Tf that is not done, there is no reason for the increasing of product‘on. Tf can only bo done by' increasing the incomes for the. rank and file of the people—increasing wages, salaries and pensions. To say that we are going to restore the. cuts, and to stop there, is not tolling the whole story. ’ ’

Air Savage said that, had there been time the wage, restoration legislation would have been passed before Parliament adjourned. The Government felt that it was bound to pass this legislation as soon as it could bo done. The next best thing was to make it retrospective.