RANKS CLOSED UP

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 80, 13 March 1931, Page 2

RANKS CLOSED UP

. UNITY OF LABOUR REDUCTION OF WAGES I DEPUTATION TO PREMIER WELLINGTON, March 12. An orderly crowd of 500 representatives of all sections of the Labour movement paraded at the Trades Hall to-day and, carrying banners protesting against the wage reductions, marched to Parliament House, where a deputation interviewed the Hon. G. W. Forbes on the steps of Parliament House. A crowd of more than 2,000 was in the grounds. Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader of the Labour Party, said that the deputation was from the open conference of the Alliance of Labour. It was representative of Sil the industrial and political organisations of labour in New Zealand, and was protesting against wage reductions. Mr. A. Cook, president of the alliance, told Mr. Forbes that the general labourers would be hard hit if the 10 per cent, reductions were adopted. Mr. Forbes was a New Zealander himself, and he could not expect New Zealand workers to submit to reductions. The Unemployment Act was a means of smashing the unions and reducing wages. He appealed to Mr. Forbes to reconsider his decision. The workers would not submit to being lowered to the coolie stage.

Mr. J. Roberts, secretary of the alliance, said that the opinion of the whole Labour movement in New Zealand was being placed before Mr. Forbes. Jf wages were to be reduced Labour would have its say. Reduced wages would make things worse tor hundreds of small farmers, and more shopkeepers would be bankrupt. Labour in New Zealand was of opinion that the Forbes Government was putting into effect Sir Otto Niemeyer’s advice to Australia. “Driving Labour Together” Mr. Roberts said that the condi tions in New Zealand should be considered before the interests of moneylenders. The action of the Government was driving the workers into a peculiar condition. An old saying was: “No hope, no fear,” and that was the' position to-day. If wages were reduced the workers would be urged to reduce their own rents accordingly: they were being driven to it. Oppression , was driving all sections of the Labour movement together. If there had been differences, they thanked Mr. Forbes for wiping, those differences away. Mr. T. Bloodworth contended that there had been no reduction in the standard of living that would warrant reduced wages. Mr. A. McLaghlan, representing the mine workers, said that the workers required a certain standard of living and would not allow their standard to bo lowered. He called on Mr, Forbes not to go on with the wage reduction policy. Mr. Forbes, replying, said that it was of no use to shut one’s eyes to the facts. The revenue had fallen ‘ £20,000,000. Any man in charge of the affairs of the country, if honest and prudent—(jeers)—would do his best for the country’s welfare. The Government was doing all in its power, and more than any other Government. When abroad he had heard people say: “I wish I could ho in New Zealand.” (Jeers.) In the food group there had been a 15 per cent, drop in the cost of living, and there would be a further fall. Surely we all had to pull together. (More jeers.) The Government was endeavouring to meet the position. Mr. Forbes’ speech was very much interrupted, the speaker being subject to considerable heckling. After he had finished, the crowd was addressed by Mr. Roberts, who urged the continuation of the propaganda. The gathering dispersed quietly.