“25 PER CENT WAGE CUT"

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18500, 12 September 1934, Page 13

“25 PER CENT WAGE CUT"

WHAT DOUGLAS CREDIT MEANS

QUEENSLAND PREMIER'S

STATEMENT

SYDNEY, Aug. 31

The Brisbane- Standard, tho organ of ;the A.W.U. in that. State, reported last Monday, under displayed heading:— Startling disclosures associated with Douglas social credit and its advocates were made by the Premier, Mr. W. Forgan Smith, to-day, when lie declared tliat this new political party stood for wage reductions, of 25 per cent, and the suspension from what was termed the "national dividend” of unions whose members violated a wage agreement. Mr. Forgan Smith was discussing the candidature of the Douglas social credit ladvocates in the present Federal election campaign. He said that no public references had yet been made by these candidates to. the wage reduction features of the Douglas scheme. “In. the New 7 Era of May 4, 1933,” he said, “details were .published of the practical manner in which Dou'das’ ‘Draft Scheme for Scotland’ would operate, j “Art integral part, of this scheme involves authority to reduce wages paid to organised workers in their businesses ;by 25 per cent. Any trade union violating a wage agreement would render its membership liable to suspension from what was called the ‘National Dividend 1 . “In the meantime,” added Mr. Forgan Smith, “the fact remains that workers and wage earners under the practical scheme outlined by Douglas are to receive for their labor a 2-5 per cent, reduction in wages. The- silence of the Douglas candidates on this aspect is, therefore, not surprising. It carries its own condemnation.”