WAGE REDUCTIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22257, 9 May 1934, Page 2

WAGE REDUCTIONS

TO TUB EIUTOB. Sir, —Your article in this morning's Daily Times reminds me of a chat I had the other day with a friend who has been on relief work for a considerable time. I suggested to him that the rise in wages which is taking place, both in private firms and public bodies, seemed to indicate that we bad "turned, the corner" and were now on the "up grade." He said he thought that if• there was money to spare for raising wages it was being put into the wrong channel. He thought the spare money should be used for the purpose of raising the wages of the lowest paid worker—namely, the relief worker, instead of being given to men who are already well off by being in constant employment, and who are being made the "aristocrats of labour." He was surprised that the Labour Party, of which he is a member, was not raising its voice against the prevailing system. I had not previously looked at the matter in that light, but was impressed by his reasoning, and thought it worth more consideration. —lam, et§., EawdoN YoRKE. May 7.