WORSE THAN COOLIES.

Southland Times, Issue 21559, 24 November 1931, Page 3

WORSE THAN COOLIES.

To the Editor. Sir, —At his meeting at Tisbury last Friday evening the Liberal candidate was asked by a member of his audience what he considered to be a reasonable living wage and after his usual manner stated £4 a week for a man with a family of four children. Twenty-five shillings of this amount was allowed for rent or towards meeting the payments of his home which would leave £2 15/- to feed and clothe the six occupants of this model home. Now, Sir, this amount divided between the six members of this household represents 9/2 per head per week. To ensure each member one good meal a day at. 1/- a balance of 2d per head or 1/- per (lay would be left to clothe and find the balance of meals, shoe leather, insurance, etc., for all concerned. In view of the fact that the State provides 15/- per week for its children, legitimate of otherwise, it is only reasonable to expect something a little in advance for the legitimate offspring of the thrifty parents, and for the above family in similar circumstances this should be at least £6 a week. The Liberal candidate may raise the “red flag” in his make-believe horror at the proposed abolition of the Arbitration Court, but until he gets a wider view of the standard of living I would suggest he abandon his present electioneering stunts or else change his name from the Liberal to the “miserable candidate.” One thing seems quite evident —he has never had to work for wages in the ordinary sense nor has he been a great employer of labour, and for this reason I would ask the wage-earner to distinguish between the true and the counterfeit on polling-day.—l am, etc., PROGRESS.