RESTORATION 0F CUTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 120, Issue 19946, 24 July 1936, Page 7

RESTORATION 0F CUTS.

SUFFERINGS OF PEOPLE. OPPOSITION ENDORSEMENT. WELLINGTON, Thursday. Moving the second reading of the Finance Bill in the House of Representatives this evening, the Hon. W. Nash, Minister of Finance, said the whole purpose of the Bill was to restore wages and salaries to 1931 level so that the Government could go forward to something better. It would not be content to remain in 1936 on 1931 standards. The Minister mentioned that employees of the State Advances Corporation would not receive an increase' in wages, as they had been given a standard of wages ruling in 1931 as soon as the operation 'had become a State institution. Sir Alfred Ransom: (Opposition— Pahiatua): Why differentiate? The Minister: There is no differentiation. We are treating all alike. | Sir Alfred: Why not go back to ] April 1 ? i The Minister: We would take back J the suffering of the people if we could, but there are some things that I are impossible even in this country, i “ The Government’s policy lias a | I wo-fold purpose,” continued Mr Nash. “ The first object is to increase production. for we cannot restore standards of living without increased production. It is also imperative to adjust distribution, and this is one of I lie steps we are taking toward that end. We believe' also that it will tend in some way to increase production.” Opposition Pleased. Pleasure at the provision in the Finance Bill restoring the depression j cuts in salaries and wages to members ; of the Public Service and workers gen- j I orally was expressed by the' Leader 1 of the Opposition, the Rt. Hon. G. W. ; Forbes. Mr Forbes contrasted the conditions prevailing to-day with those that, existed at the time the’ redactions were made by the previous GovernI ment. ! The Minister of Finance had been handed over a surplus of £280,000. in ' itself a creditable thing for the Government responsible, continued Mr Forbes. That Government had been able to change a huge - deflelt into a j surplus before it handed over the reins I of ofTlce. ”We know that the Minister of Finance can look forward to a greatly increased revenue total this year,” Mr Forbes added.