MAINTENANCE OF WAGES

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1930, Page 6

MAINTENANCE OF WAGES

PROTEST ABOUT REDUCTION “NO PANACEA FOR DEPRESSION.” [RESOLUTIONS AT CHRISTCHURCH. By Talezraph.—PreM Association. Christchurcli’, Oct. 19. A protest against'the abolition of the Arbitration Court a.nd any reduction in, wages was made by 700 people at a meeting in the Civic Theatre last evening. Speeches setting out the Labour •Party’s view on the present economic situation of the Dominion were made ■by the Mayor, the Rev. J. K. Archer, ■and four Labour members of Parliament.

The meeting passed the following motion: “That this meeting of citizens •confidently affirms with Mr. Philip ■Snowden that a reduction in wages isno panacea for trade depression. On the contrary, it aggravates the position ■by lessening still further the effective demand. What is wanted when trade is ’bad is to increase the volume of purchasing power. This is the philosophy of Mr. Henry Ford and other leaching industrialists. This meeting emphatically protests against the insidious and sustained propaganda by Chambers of Commerce and others against the Arbitration Court. This propaganda has ■already had most detrimental effects on trade and industry, as every manufacturer can testify.”