FLATE RATE CHARGES WAIVED

Hawera Star, Volume L, 15 January 1931, Page 6

FLATE RATE CHARGES WAIVED

CENTRAL POWER BOARD DECISION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.;) HAMILTON, Jan. 14. In order to assist the primary producer in the present financial difficulties the Central Power Board to-day decided to forego the flat rate charges •on milking plant and .separators for the balance of the season until March 31.

The question of reducing the staff’s wages and effecting general economics was referred to the finance committee for a report. Mr. W. Bee Martin, M.P., strongly criticised the Government’s “failure to set a national example by a general reduction in the wages of civil servants.” He expressed the hope- that Air. Forbes on ids return would immediately summon Parliament to take the proper stops to afford relief to those suffering from the depression. Air J. J. Riyburn considered that it was not right for the b-oard t-o cut wages unless the reduction was genera l throughout the country. He pointed ■out that enormous amounts were being paid in charitable aid, but the boards had received no assistance yet from the Unemployment Board. Higher salaried officials should bo affected before the worker, while exorbitant professional foes which had undergone no reduction since the boom period should he substantially lowered.