THE 14/- WAGE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 978, 22 May 1930, Page 15

THE 14/- WAGE

AUSTRALIANS COMING TO SEEK WORK CHARGE ON COMMUNITY “If New Zealand is going to pay relief wage rates at 14s a day we are going to have the whole world flocking to our doors,” remarked Mr. A. G. Lunn at this morning’s meeting of the Chamber of Commerce Council. Mr. Lunn had cited the case of an Australian in search of work in Auckland. Tho man had been lured over by stories of higher wages than he could get over the other side, but could find no employment here. After five days he was a charge on the charitable relief organisation. The instance arose out of a discussion of the serious proportions the hospital levy had reached. Mr. L. A. Eady moved that the Taxation Committee investigate and report, and this was agreed. “This levy is causing ratepayers very great concern,” said Mr. Eady. “I am not taking up the question from tho humane point of view. It is the ever-growing expenditure that many of us are so concerned about. The effect on the local rates is very appreciable and is having a bad influence on the estimates of local bodies.” The position was anomalous, Mr. Eady continued. The ratepayer had to find the money for hospital and charitable aid, but it was the individual and not the community which benefited. The Hospital Board was only responsible to the Minister of Health, yet the board could make a levy which had far-reaching effects on local body expenditure. The chamber should define its policy. Seconding, Mr. T. C. Webster said that the present position was not right in principle and was not even logical. Mr. G. Finn introduced a new note by suggesting that if people were drifting into Auckland, it was reasonable to assume that this City was more prosperous than other parts. If, however, they were dependent on charitable aid, then that was not desirable. But not all were like that and there was some asset. Mr. Wendell Phillips said he understood the Government was alive to the influx from Australia.