GOVERNMENT ECONOMIES

Hawera Star, Volume L, 16 February 1931, Page 5

GOVERNMENT ECONOMIES

CIVIL SERVANTS CONFER, MR FORBES’. PLAN DISCUSSED. lily iei-gmpQ—rteet. AasociaUuii.j WELLINGTON, Feb. Id. A combined conference of Public Service organisations was hurriedly called on Saturday morning to consider that portion of the Prime Ministers’ statement relating to the Public Service, but at its conclusion no statement was available for publication, although a reply will probably be issued within the next day or so. Seven organisations—the Post and Telegraph. Employees’ Association, the Public Service Association, the Educational Institute, the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, the Railway Officers’ Institute, the Engiife Drivers’, Firemen’s arid Cleaners’ Association, and the Railway Tradesmen’s Association —were represented at the conference.

A sub-committee consisting of a representative from each of the organisations mentioned was set up to prepare a reply to the Government’s proposals. Tire sub-committee will report back to a further combined conrerence, after which the reply will probably be released for publication.

“A NECESSARY PRELIMINARY.” THE COST OF LIVING. AUCKLAND, Feb. 14. Except in Labour circles the Government’s wage reduction proposals are regarded as a necessary preliminary to economic reconstruction. Labour’s viewpoint is that any wage reduction proposal should be opposed unless there is an understanding that the cost of living will be proportionately reduced. Dr. Belsliaw, Professor of Economics, said that side by side with the general wage reduction there should be reductions in interest, rents, professional fees, etc., and the banks should take the lead. The Civil Service view, so far as ascertainable, is that the reduction had to come, but it will be pretty hard on the lower paid members. Mr. Phelan, secretary of the Timber Workers’ Union, said that if the Arbitration Court was in effect to be instructed to reduce wages, Labour would expect a tribunal to be set up to see that the cost of living was reduced proportionately.

POSTAL INCREASE CRITICISED. COMPULSION FOR WORKERS. DUNEDIN, Feb. 14. Expressing the Manufacturers’ Association view of the financial proposals, the president, Mr. Kindley oongratn-. lated the Prime Minister on relinquishing the false position of maintaining wages above an economic level. He stated, however, that it was not a sound' policy to increase 'postal charges, which seemed' in contradiction-to the professed effort to reduce overhead charges. The spokesmen for three trade unions said the bottom dog was being compelled to make sacrifices, while, on the other hand, there was only an appeal to mortgagees and money interests to reduce charges. The proposal to review awards was regarded: as a breach of faith and a suspension of contract. It was a case of compulsion for workers and a request to the monied. A shopkeeper stated that there would be less money circulated, and small stores would suffer. It was not likely that Mr. Forbes’ appeal to lenders to ease charges would! 'be acceded to.