For Civil Servants.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 78, 1 April 1931, Page 8

For Civil Servants.

To tho Editor. Dear Sir.—l am not surprised with the action of the Civil Servants resenting the wage cut. They are not (or, ot least some of them) very considerate to the people who provide their salaries. They are privileged. I suppose, to be the first to “ squeal ” when reduction in wages takes place, as naturally they should be the first to help the Government to economise, as they are not pro-

ducers of goods and have not to buy supplies of materials, etc, to compete with their fellows, their only source of expense being food, clothes, rent, etc. They have not to enter the market both home and foreign to buy goods for competitive purposes, to buy as keenly as possible so as to be able to defend their business against both local and outside competitors. But, sir, I consider they should at least be compelled (for conscience sake) to buy goods of local manufacture for their own use, and not, as I know of many, who, for instance, buy American made shoes when good shoes are being made in New Zealand. It would not be so bad if they were to buv English-made shoes, which are quite the equal of any American shoe made (if not superior), as many of the best shoes sold in the U.S.A. are made in English factories. Why, sir, should these men not study the need of the country in which they make their easy living, working at a good wage and after a period retiring on superannuation? We poor wage earners, working under the present conditions, have to lose many days’ pay during the year from holidays for which the Government employees are paid. We are also labouring under the disadvantage of having to work many weeks for only 4 to 5 days per week, which brings our wages much lower than the average Civil Servant. We have had to serve from four to seven years* apprenticeship at a very low wage during most of which time we are depending on our relatives for the best part of our support, and very often losing our jobs through our employers going bankrupt or having to quit manufacturing on account of the cheap rubbish which is being dumped into New Zealand at such a price that no New Zealand man can live.

If, sir, we could get rid of the salaried officials of this country, to wear the local production, to insist on being supplied with it, to help in the demand for it, we could look round and say, 44 Here is a country with no unemployment.” Until we can get a better demand for the local articles we shall have poverty in our midst as ths result of partial unemployment. If wB could get the Government servants on ouT side we should never have any more half empty factories and they would gain quite as much as us poor workers. Yours etc, RICHARD HILLARY, Burwood.