WAGES AND PRICES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23492, 5 May 1938, Page 17

WAGES AND PRICES

I'O THE EDITOR

Sir, —"Greg" asserts that the wages I mentioned for the city worker have no existence except in my own head. May I quote, therefore, from Cr Allen's speech as published on April 23? Cr Allen says: "... the Unemploy-

merit Board now grants to local bodies for approved works a subsidy of £4 a week a man. The Dunedin City Council supplements this amount by 16s 8d to bring payment up to the standard wage of £4 16s 8d per week." So it seems the City Council suffers under the same illusion when it has been getting £4 worth of work paid for by the Unemployment Board for each 16s 8d it spends. " Greg " has not to take my word for it that the work is useful, for Cr Allen adds to the statement I quote from him: "Useful work within the city area has been accomplished by this arrangement. .."

It seems that your correspondent has not kept in touch with this Unemployment Board's bonus to local bodies doing approved work. I suspect, therefore, that he is working under some local body with an anti-labour bias which fears, to avail itself of this opportunity of improving its roads. And if "Greg" lives in the Taieri the roads do need improving, and many people have to walk in gumboots during wet weather and change into good boots on main roads to go to town. If "Waiting Proof" induces the woman who, he says, was badly treated, to consult me at the address below, I will see that steps are taken to secure for her the justice that is her due, if the facts support the contentions. On a previous occasion, in opposition to a secretary's views, I guaranteed legal expenses to a lawyer who is now a Supreme Court judge, and he secured for a victim the money he was entitled to and re-employment as well. Neither union officials nor employer can come the high hand and ostracise anvone unjustly. The union members will not stand for that sort of thing, either, when the worker complies with awards. —I am, etc., J. E. ItlacManus. 15 Gilmore street, Kaikorai.