PRICES AND UNEMPLOYMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21252, 4 August 1932, Page 13

PRICES AND UNEMPLOYMENT

Sir, —I would like to comment on the letter by "Facts First." "Balbus" and myself agree that prices have fallen overseas, and that workers must bear their sharo of this drop. However, the amount of wages is not so much the point as distribution. If hours are cut so must wages bo cut; yet the cut would not amount to the same loss as at present due to the expense of keeping unemployed. Therefore, ultimately, the workers would get quite as much as their present net pay, and all those unemployed at present would get it also. The only saving would be the unnecessary cost of the unemployed, which I estimate at £8,000,000 per annum, and this amount would automatically be distributed. Is it not worth while ? I realise that some firms are employing hands part time and thereby assisting, but the system must bo universal to be fair. There must be legislation as there was for the eight-hour day. The result of a sixhour day would be necessarily more efficiency and less duplication, which would provide a further saving. The moral aspect of the removal of unemployment is still more serious and makes it neccssr;ry for the sake of the younger generation, Proportion.