WAGES REDUCTION

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 87, 21 March 1931, Page 5

WAGES REDUCTION

P UPPER HOUSE DEBATE

J HON EAKNSHAW'S OPINIONS

[ WELLINGTON, March 20. , The Legislative Council met at 2.30 £jn. Resuming the debate on the Address- / fln-Beply, Hon. W. Earushaw said thai 'jkfcevef had theTe beea such a difficult ■ time aa the present, and it was the 'I jfluty of all to meet the necessities of the state. He believed that if the Government persisted ii- its endeavour ito place such an intolerable burden ou the workers it would lead to convulsions, if not to revolution. Sir Francis Bell's speech came as a bombshell, but its arguments were unanswerable. He favoured a tax on wages. He attached the work of the Unemployment Board and said that nothing but disaster could come from its policy. ■ Hon. G. Witty expressed surprise at jthe suggestion that there should be a tax on sugar, which was one of tho necessities of life. He suggested the doubling of the amusement tax, the legalising of national sweeps on the lines Of Tasmania, the licensing of bookmakers and the manufacture of whisky in New Zealand. A "lot of revenue could l>e derived from these sources. Too much was being spent at present on luxuries. He also advocated the manufacture of paper pulp in the Dominion.

The debate was adjourned arid the Council rose at 4.30 p.m. until Wednes day.