STANDARD WAGES
Sir, —Will you be good enough to grant me space to explain my position under the Labour Government. We are constantly hearing about the wonderful increase in wages since the present Government took office, and how well pleased all the Public Works men are. Well, 1 can tell you that the men working on the railway duplication scheme under Public Works control are very far from satisfied. 1 am working on this scheme, and have been for the past 18 months, and after deducting transport fees my wage is £3 17s 8d per week, and that is only in dry weather. In wet weather it is considerably less. I am a married man, with a wife and four children to support; and how does the Government expect a man to support a family on such a paltry wage, wlien everything is so costly? How is it that local body men are earning £4 ss, wet or dry, and until recently were earning £4 10s per week, free of tax. 1 understood that this was onlv temporary, and that these men had to stand down after so many months' work. I'definitely say that £3 17s 8d is not sufficient to support a wife and growing family. Dissatisfied.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19380823.2.157.5
Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23123, 23 August 1938, Page 13
Word Count
208STANDARD WAGES New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23123, 23 August 1938, Page 13
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