“Continual Agitation”

Wanganui Chronicle, 10 November 1950, Page 4

“Continual Agitation”

Sir,—The Wanganui Chamber of Commerce is to be congratulated on their withholding support of Mr S. J. Sullivan’s request for measures to stop the "continual agitation for increases in wages throughout New Zealand.” Evidently Mr Sullivan seeks the suppression of the right of workers to seek wage increases, while leaving the employers free to set their own prices on goods. In regard to the £3 10s increase sought by the Auckland Labourers’ Union, Mr Sullivan must know perfectly well that its granting is extremely unlikely. In the case of the interim wage increase recently the workers requested 16s a week. They were given less than half that amount—7s to be exact. Let me assure Mr Sullivan that I believe in 40 hours’ conscientious work per week. In return the worker is entitled to something more than just sufficient remuneration to keep body and soul together. If Mr Sullivan desires to limit wages, then the cost of goods and the degree of profit must also be limited. In his sincerity perhaps Mr Sullivan will accept a standard of living equivalent to that of the average city worker and thus make his own contribution to the reduction in the cost of living. Then perhaps the workers will believe that he has greater regard for human values rather than pounds, shillings and pence.—l am, etc. DAVID V. WILKIE.