The Times SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1941. If Wages, then Pensions

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 290, 6 December 1941, Page 6

The Times SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1941. If Wages , then Pensions

At a large meeting of railway workers in Auckland strong demands for increased wages are reported to have been voiced and it was also reported that Wanganui and Wellington railwaymen support such demands. We may expect to hear many more such demands as the cost of living inevitably rises under war conditions. What is the answer to be? Such demands are no eause for surprise nor should they be condemned outright. The difficulties of individual citizens, more particularly those with family responsibilities can be appreciated. None of us ever feel that our incomes are quite big enough or that the funds at our disposal are ample for our needs. No one ever likes to economise. Each man views economies as they affect himself. Each individual very readily believes that the worth of his services exceeds the reward granted for them. That is but human. The economy of a country cannot be determined by individual desires. It can, however, be determined, overall, by individual production. There is no possibility of all the citizens of New Zealand retaining their pre-war standard of living now that the country is engaged in an “all in” war. The overall standard of living must drop. . Of course, it is quite feasible for some sections of the community to maintain their position, but to do so some other section must lose doubly. That is unless we produce more. Credit will be given to all the working members of the community for working to full capacity during the hours they are working If more production be desired then must they work longer. Merely' to raise the wages of any one section of the community may satisfy selfish individual ends. So to ask is to display poor spirit, in wartime especially. To be fair, if wages be raised for some they must be raised for all; and if wages-be raised then must pensions be raised, and again all salaries and fees should likewise he raised. And when all this is done we would all be exactly back at where we had started. A very fruitless foolish round-a-bout. That this is not fully and universally appreciated reflects gravely upon the Government—upon Cabinet in particular, from the Prime Minister downwards, for not giving leadership to the Dominion. And as to the action to be taken, would refer Cabinet here to the remarks of Mr. Ernest Bovin and other British Labour leaders. Mr. Bevin has voiced his opposition to increasing wages during the war.