WAGES AND TRADE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21503, 29 May 1933, Page 13

WAGES AND TRADE

Sir, —A letter written by Mr. C. H. Mcllsop deserves further study. Mr. Mellsop, if we are to take his writings seriously, would starve this country into prosperity. Ho proposes to do this by tho threadbare method of reducing wages still further. In the same issue of the Hkkald' we read of the empty lunch baskets of'some Auckland children and tho kindly actions of teachers in giving these unfortunate children a portion of their lunches. 1 am employed at a native school in the Bay of Plenty, and have seen tho same thing take place here. We know that this stato of affairs has been brought about by wage cuts, which mean reduced spending power, therefore dismissals, which further aggravate tho position. Take the relief workers, who aro on a baro allowance, and other workers who arc on a reduced scale. These, with their wives and families, must number at least well over a quarter of a million. Would any intelligent person say that that number of people is not going to disturb tho butter market of this country, when everyone knows that New Zealanders are voracious butter eaters from childhood? Mr. Mcllsop further states that tho lowest-paid worker can buy all that ho requires of butter. This is sheer rot. It is not so in my case, and 1 know it to bo wrong in many others in my district. For instance, I have a wife and three children. Three years ago wo had a standing order for 51b. of butter per week and two of cheese. It is now 21b. of butter and no cheese. If this kind of thing is happening in New Zealand, it is safe to presumo tho samo to be happening elsewhere. It is not wages that are stopping Englishmen from eating our butter, but lack of them. If wo do as suggested by Mr. Mellsop wo will soon bo back to barbarism, and instead of agricultural and dairying experts we shall require missionaries. Pekau.