RETRENCHMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9102, 10 July 1888, Page 5

RETRENCHMENT.

A correspondent, "Practical," writes.— The so-called "Skinflint" committee seem to have raised a bit of an hornet's nest. The Premier thinks if retrenchment is to be genuine, it should apply equally to all; but, of course, the noble working man never meant this. Reduce others, screw down as much as you like, but don't touch us. Keep up the price ,of labour, as to whether by so doing you prevent our being able to compete or supply as low as other places, that is a matter of perfect indifference to us. Add to the burthens of the colonists by heavy Protectionist duties, so that we may be assured of work, and our children also, but don't touch our wages, whatever else you do'. This is virtually what the working man says, and his representative, eager for popularity, is ready to endorse. But, is this quite fair ? Why should the man whose salary is £160 to £200 have it reduced 10 per cent., white the wages man, receiving the same or thereabouts, is to remain untouched ? Coming to retrenchment, of salaries and how it affects the community, Mr. Moss rightly says it is not the salaries or the wages we are paying that is ruining the country, but the large sums we are sending out of _ the colony that impoverishes us. Presuming I am a clerk at £200 per annum, and the Government deduct 10 per cent, from my salary—that is £20 less—then comes the additional tariff charges, fully all round 15 per cent, additional, amounting to £27, or in all a reduction of £47 per annum. What is the result ?that I go borne and retrench in twenty different directions, at the loss of the .grocer, the baker, the draper, and wherever I possibly can, and all this helps to make matters worse for all classes. But we have the " skinflints'" support in raising an additional two-million loan, and putting another debt on the overburdened colony, but we leave the working man's wages untouched. We have - sugar cheaper than ever, which could well stand a small additional duty, and we have the property tax exempting the horny-handed. Surely we ought to be all happy ! But are we ?