Curtailment of Government Expenditure

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7412, 20 December 1930, Page 3

Curtailment of Government Expenditure

TO MEET THE DEPRESSION

Resolutions arising out of a recent meeting of the Manawatu A. and 1. Association were before last evening’s meeting of the Feilding A. and P. Association when a resolution was carried urging upon the Government the necessity for drastic curtailment in national expenditure. When the letter was read, the chairman (Mr. E. Burrell, President) felt that the position of the country called for some discussion and ho felt that the committee should express its views ou tho issues raised by the Manawatu A. and P. Association.

Mr. D. L. Younger considered that the Association should support the proposals of the Manawatu Association. Air. J. B. Bradley was not altogether in agreement with tbe proposals which were very far reaching. He had not yet seen any proposal to replace the Arbitration Court should it be abolished but he agreed, however, lhat the economic position was such as called for some action.

Air. L. J. Wild agreed with the idea of reducing the salaries of Government offfeials, members of Parliament, etc., but he questioned tho wisdom of tho meeting endeavouring to arrive at a decision on the railway question. Ho moved that the necessity for drastic curtailment in expenditure be urged upon the Government.

Air. Younger seconded the motion. Air. E. E. Short would have liked to have seen Air. Wild go further and in elude a protest against the payment of Us a day on unemployment relief work. “It was positively ridiculous,’’ he said. Support for Air. Wild’s motion and the remarks of Mr. Short, was given by Air. B. N. San dilands. As far as the farmer was concerned the rate of wages paid to unemployed did not affect them. What did, however, was the high price of land and the high interest rates. Air. Bradley pointed out that wages were an important factor in cases of production, because high wages made for high costs of production which affected the farmer.

The motion was carried without further discussion.