“DEFLATION POLICY”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 118, 21 May 1932, Page 5

“DEFLATION POLICY”

OPPOSITION BY FARMERS. OTHER REMEDIES PROPOSED. PRESENTING UNITED FRONT. Opposition to what was described us the Government’s “policy of deflation” was expressed by tho Auckland provincial branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union at its conference this week, when a committee was .< quested to confer with other organisations with a view to presenting a united front in approaching the Government. Ihe Northern Conference presented the following remit: “Considering that the policy of the Auckland public servants corresponds with our policy for the rectification of the financial situatl .i, as their first remedial step is identical with ours, the provincial conferences should be requested to elect a committee to confer with representatives of the Post and Telegraph Employees’ Association to consider the possibility of presenting a united front against the Government’s policy of deflation, the Niemeyer plan.” Mr. A. Giles, of Hokianga, said certain publio service organisations, as apart from the labour union., were working on lines leading to the union’s views. At a me'ting in the Town Hall in April these organisations had passed a motion opposing the Government’s claim to have a mandate to adopt a policy of deflation, and calling on the Government to withdraw its legislation imposing wage reductions, and to reorganise finance and industry so as to absorb the unemployed and make cuts unnecessary. The acting-chairman, Mr. H. M. Rushworth, M.P., said there was a number of men and organisations throughout the (Dominion thinking and working on similar lines, all of them puttin forward schemes to solve the country’s present difficulties. He L. been in touch with these men and organisations, including Mr. W. F. Kcrit-John-ston and Mr. J. H. McKenzie, of the Post and Telegraph Association. He suggested that the remit should be amended to read “to confer with Messrs Kent-Johnston and McKenzie and others” instead of “with representatives of the association.” If the amendment were made, the union could confer with the Returned Soldiers’ Association and other organisations. Mr. W. Boyd, of Matangi, asked whether, in view of the Government’s attitude to the Post and Telegraph Association, the remit would prejudice civil servants in any way.

The acting-chairma- said the union would not be dealing with the association but with individuals, who were entitled to express their own opinions. The amended remit was then adopted.