THE WAGES CUT.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18834, 24 March 1931, Page 10

THE WAGES CUT.

Labour Organising Opposition. A BOYCOTT PROPOSED. The weapon proposed by Alliance of Labour representatives, Messrs A. Cook (president), and J. Roberts (secretary), to a Timaru audience in the Scottish Hall last evening, as a means of defeating the wages cut, is a boycott of all business firms who fall into line with the Government’s policy. In the unavoidable absence of the Mayor, the chair was occupied by Mr A. M. Paterson, who has been selected as the Labour Party’s candidate for the Waitaki seat at the next general election. There was a fair attendance, the building being more than half filled. Preparatory to Introducing the speakers, Mr Paterson said it did not matter what might be thought of the Labour movement, there was abundant evidence that it had come to stay. Men and women—intellectual men and women—from all classes of society had been able to sweep aside the distortions of the millionaire Press, and the movement was growing everywhere. The Labour movement was organised in the interest of mankind. Some of the best men and women of modern times had been attracted to the Labour movement. Mr Ramsay Macdonald, for example, the greatest peacemaker in history, and one of the most successful statesmen in all history. Then there was Lord Sankey, and thousands of others, who were working against the unjust privileges of monopolies which were crushing mankind. Mr Paterson said the agricultural people were defrauded of over £8,000,000 last year by privileged men; and the farmers had so been robbed for years. He then introduced the speakers. Boycott Proposed. Mr Arthur Cook was the first speaker. He said 'it was a pleasure to come to Timaru to deal with a subject which many workers did not realise was so seriotis, or what it was likely to mean to them and to their wives and children. Mr Cook said this meeting had been called very hurriedly. Had they known in time the meeting would have been better organised. It was almost certain that it would be necessary to have a series of meetings on this subject both in Timaru and elsewhere, and he promised that these would be properly organised so that people would have an opportunity of taking part in the discussion. They required the assistance of the whole of the working classes of New Zealand if they were to defeat what the present Government intended to inflict upon the workers. When Mr Forbes first intimated that a 10 per cent, reduction would be made in the wages in the whole of the civil servants, he also stated that power would be given to the Arbitration Court to review award rates of pay, and the Alliance of Labour called a conference of delegates from all Unions. Some 150 delegates represented 90,000 organised workers. It was pointed out that in connection with almost every industry In New Zealand the workers had already had their wages considerably reduced through unemployment during the past twelve months. It was stated further that many men had been displaced by machinery, the estimate being that approximately 30 per cent, reduction had been suffered by the workers. Mr Cook said they claimed that it was unjust to inflict any further reduction on the wageearners. Unanimous resolutions were carried against any reductions, and a policy was laid down which would have the united support of the workers of New Zealand should the Government’s proposals become law. (Applause.) A mass deputation comprising 5000 people waited upon the Prime Minister in the Parliamentary grounds. It was pointed out to him that there were many workers’ homes where children were not receiving sufficient nourishing food or enough warm clothing. The Prime Minister made one of the most pitiful speeches it was possible for one to listen to. All he could say was that the workers would have to live on what the country could afford to pay them. The whole speech hinged on the fact that all he was concerned with was the balancing of his budget. He put up a beautiful tale to satisfy the money interests and bond-holders.

"I am convinced that, unless the workers of New Zealand do their share, this cut will be inflicted upon them; and their wages will be reduced to the coolie level in order that the interest bill shall be paid. It was our fault for sending him Home. You can realise what the money-bugs would be likely to do with a poor old farmer like poor old George. He came back fully convinced that the people who have loaned money to New Zealand should receive their profits in full. The conference set up a central National Council of the New Zealand Alliance of Labour, and this Council will decide what action shall be taken when the first section of the workers receive the cut. I assure you people we are not going to accept starvation rates of pay lying down. We are not going tc be foolish enough to order a strike. That may be adopted by other Unions, but there are many other methods with which to frustrate this movement. After Parliament has passed the Finance Bill then the industrial Labour movement is going to get ousy. The working class of New Zealand realise what it will mean when they can’t purchase sufficient food stuffs necessary in order to build up the children to fit them for their life’s battle. During the past six months, and ever since the Unemployment Act was placed upon the Statute Book, the position for the workers has become steadily worse. That Act is the worst and rottenest piece of legislation ever placed upon the Statute Book of any country, and if the workers allow that to continue without demanding its repeal or smashing it there will be no hope for them. It was designed solely to give cheap labour. This is proved by the fact that when it was passed there were 10,000 unemployed in New Zealand, and now there are between 30,000 and 40,000. Any employer can dismiss his workers if he so desires and re-em-ploy them under the Unemployment Act. Some of the wealthiest men in Wellington have been having a great old time getting work done with the assistance of the Unemployment Act. The advice given to the workers is to pay no unemployment levy should the Finance Act become law.” (Applause.) Mr Cook said the next move by Mr Forbes would be to reduce the rates of pay on relief works to 12/6 per day for married men, and 9/- for single men. This meant that a single man would receive 18/- a week, and a man with a wife and family £2 10s a week. He asked how would it be possible to provide a family with nourishing food with such a Wage. He intimated that it was proposed in all cases where firms reduced the pay of their staffs that these be boycotted, and those who did not be patronised. Mr Cook also referred to the fact that the civil service had refused to Join with the other organisations in sending a delegate to the big conference on the ground that it was a breach of their constitution, and also that they would fight their own battle.

Repudiation of War Debts. Mr Robert's covered a great deal of the ground traversed by Mr Cook. He said further, that the proposed reduction was being influenced by the money power and the bondholders overseas. People who represented these interests said the standard of living in New Zealand was too high, and should be lowered to that of Western Europe and London. Sir Otto Niemeyer, representing the Bank of England, had advocated a reduction of 10 per cent, in wages of the Civil Service both here and in Australia, and had said that pensions for the aged and widows should be eliminated, and they would get plenty of money from the Old Country. Mr Lang refused to reduce wages. He did not refuse to pay interest on loans, but said the people would have to be supplied with their requirements first. (Applause.) The day before Mr Forbes made his pronouncement. the London “Morning Post’ said he was a courageous man, and that he was following the advice given by Sir Otto Niemeyer to Australia. The speaker said Sir Otto had given the same to New Zealand, and to-day we were not governed by the people sent to Parliament, but by the ! bondholders overseas. The pioneers who came to this country left the ! people a heritage, and were they going : to let a gang of economic highwaymen j rob them? Were they playing fair with the little children who would I come after them? If they did they j were a nation of cowards. Mr Roberts j said he had been called a repudiation- j ist because he had suggested that the i war debts should be cancelled. The ; men of New Zealand. Australia and j Canada had paid for the war in blood. They had protected the money and

interests of the bankers, and the property of the wealthy, and now the children of those soldiers were asked to return the v/ages paid to their fathers by these moneyed interests. If repudiation was a bad thing, why had England remitted 62 per cent, of France’s war debt, and 62 per cent, of the debt Italy owed her. This statement had been made by Mr Philip Snowden in the House of Commons. France owed Uncle Sam £1,000.000,000. and England paid the interest on it for them. In the face of this, they were asking New Zealand to pay them in gold. For every 15/- loaned to this country the people were p*»vip" 25 - back. If the wage-earners, in view of these facts, submitted to a 10 per cent, reduction in their wages they deserved to be reduced 60 per cent, or even 100 per cent. Support Promised. At the conclusion of the addresces the following motion was carried:— "That this meeting of Timaru citizens views with alarm the Prime Minister’s attempt to further reduce the standard of living of the people of New Zealand, and pledges itself to wholeheartedly support the New Zealand Alliance of Labour in its campaign against the proposed wage reduction.” A vote of thanks to the speakers, the chairman and the Press, terminated the meeting.