AN EXAMPLE TO OTHERS

Hawera Star, Volume L, 17 February 1931, Page 5

AN EXAMPLE TO OTHERS

PRAISE FOR MR. FORBES FIRM CONTROL INSTITUTED CONTRAST WITH AUSTRALIA. OnHArt Pe mw —By Electric Teletfrapu OopyrijrOt.; LONDON, Feb, 10. The “Morning Post” says:—Mr. Forbes has set an example of prudent and courageous finance which ought not to be :iost on either Mr. Snowden or Mr. Scullin. New Zealand has suffered as much as any country under the maelstrom or world depression ; yet, whereas Australia is still shn-king the issue, Mr. Forbes has wasted no time in Ijringing the situation under control belore it becomes unmanageable. •‘His programme embodies just those measures winch sir Otto iNiemeyer recommended for Australia.

“improvident governments, like our own. who cut tneir coat without regard to the cloth, will D e . well advised to take a leaf out of Mr. Forbes' booli.”

The “Observer,” after referring to New Zealand's bolil anu brave, attempt to face realities, says that the adoption or Mr. d. T. Hang’s scheme woulu destroy Australia’s credit abroad aim impoverish thousands oi citizens at Home. Hang's 'parallel of the American debt settlement is wholly fallacious, but -Mr. toculfm's proposal to lengthen the war debt redemption period is quite another thing. Teh ••Oberser” declares that Mr. 13. 0. Theodore’s limited inflation plan is specious. Australia is not yet out of tne wood. REFORM’S ATTITUDE. •STATEMENT BY MR, COATES. Tcicgrapli —Association. j AUCKLAND, Eeb. 16. When referring to tbe Prime Minister’s statement, Mr. Uoates said that insofar as Air. Forbes followed tbe proposal of tbe Reform Party, he would support tfle Government in measures wiiicli were considered of national interest.

LABOUR OPPOSITION

ALLIANCE RESOLUTION

The Newi Zealand Alliance of Labour at its annual meeting in Wellington during the week-end passed the following resolution: “This meeting of representatives of the affiliations to the New Zealand Alliance of Labour declares its wholehearted opposition to the .proposal of the Prime Minister to reduce wages, and calls upon the organised workers of New Zealand to offer all the opposition possible to the dictatorship oi Mr. Forbes in declaring a reduction in wages without consulting Parliament or the organised workers of New Zealand. Owing to the oasualness of employmen, the overwhelming majority of the workers have already been subjected to a wages reduction of from 20 to 30 per cent. A further reduction would, therefore, 'lower the standard of living of these men and their dependants to the starvation level. The meeting is, therefor of the opinion that the Prime Minister intends to lower the standard oi living of the working people below the fodder basis in the interests of the hankers, money lenders, and bondholders, for, while he proposes to reduce wages, interest charges are to remain at their present high level. The delegates assembled at the meeting consider that the interest of the people of the Dominion should! he the first consideration of the Government. Apparently the Prime Minister's first consideration is for the bondholders, money-lenders, and hankers, for he has not suggested that, there shoufld be any reduction in their large incomes. ‘‘As a further reduction in wages would only cause more poverty, unemployment, and distress among the working people and their dependants, the organised workers will oppose by every means in their power the proposal of the Prime Minister to lower the standard of living of the workers of the Dominion.

“Further, with a view of organising opposition to the proposed wage reduction, the officers of the Alliance of Labour be instructed to convene a conference of the representatives and all industrial unions in the Dominion, to be held at Wellington on March 10, and that alll trade unions 'be urged to send delegates.”