The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, MARCH 23, 1931. AN AMAZING PRONOUNCEMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 March 1931, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, MARCH 23, 1931. AN AMAZING PRONOUNCEMENT.

Tnu methods of retaliation devised by the ccnference of trades unions, convened by tip- New Zealand Alliance of Labour, against the proposals if the Government for meeting the depression by reductions of wages and production costs, are neatly stated in a document which has been furnished to the press. The conference first appointed a central committee to orguni.se “widespread and effective industrial action" on the part of the workers throughout the Dominion upon the enforcement of a wage reduction. Next, it proceeded solemnly to outline various forms in which action should be taken. The directions are undoubtedly comprehensive. Workers are “definitely instructed” that they are to reduce the amount of the rentals paid to their landlords by 16 per cent, i to cut 15 per cent, from the amount of interest paid by them on mortgages; to subtract 10 per cent, from all accounts that may be rendered to them by confiding tradespeople for food, clothing and other necessaries of life" which have been supplied; and to boycott:, upon the information of employees, all firms that have dared to express approval of the Prime Minister's economy scheme, or that may venture to reduce wages. The document in which these decisions arc- set forth will appeal to many people outside the ranks of trade unionism considers tin l Otago Times, by reason of its subline naivete. Nothing quite as nonsensical could have been compiled by a gathering of professional humorists, yet those who were responsible for this precious deliverance are probably as amateurish as regards humo-ur as they betray themselves to be in relation to knowledge of economies. Tf the cost of living could be reduced as simply as the Alliance of Labour seems to suggest, the people of the Dominion would he entitled to demand of the Government, the primary producer, and the shopkeeper how they ever allowed the occurrence of a t|rad ; e depression. Unfortunately, however, a serious fall in the prices of Now Zealand produce on the overseas markets cannot lie prevented because the Government does not, wish it, nor can the producer fix his own price for his wool and butter, nor the shop-keeper -sell his wares at whatever figure his customers choose to consider fair, regardless of what they cost him. These things are governed by conditions outside the control of the New Zealand Legislature, and it is futile to attempt to ignore the fact. Tt is equally futile for the, Alliance of Labour to disregard tlm necessity for a reduction of costs. The plain truth is that, the Dominion lias £20.009,000 less to spend this year that it had Inst year, and it cannot possibly continue as it has been doing. It has front sheer necessity to reduce its costs of production in every direction. And if costs do fall all round, no one tvill be very seriously the worse off. The important thing is that the sacrifices that must bo made shall be shared as equitably ns possible by the whole population. The really amazing point about the declaration which the Allince of Labour hn« issued is. that it should have been issued at all, The public may find difficulty in believing that the 105 delegates who could solemnly approve the terms of the manifesto were actually representative of 88,000 trade unionists in New Zealand. The beneficial effects of free and compulsory education have certainly been over-rated if 88,000 persons in the Dominion are so constituted as to be able to- treat this singular document otherwise than as a huge joke.