NEW ORDER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 151, 27 June 1936, Page 17

NEW ORDER.

IDEALS OF LABOUR. 'WORK AND SECURITY FOR ALL' HOPES OF HON. P. C. WEBB, (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) - ~ DUNEDIN, Friday. The coining of a new social order in ifrew Zealand was heralded by the Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb, when speaking, to-night at a civic reception in his honour in the Town Hall. "This Government has the conscientious conviction," said Mr. Webb, "that it is going to blaze a trail for the rest of humanity and I believe the Government will light a torch that will throw its light even into every home in Europe where the old order is crumbling at the present day.

"As a member of the new Government, I can assure you that we are not insensible to our responsibilities and that we do not under-estimate the work ahead," said' the Minister. "We have a really big job ahead if we are to succeed in the realisation of our ideals, but big jobs were meant to be done by Governments with ideals and a determination to work up to those ideals." When the present Government took office, the Minister continued, there were 50,000 farmers bankrupt. Business conditions were poor and there were about 50,000 unemployed, to whom the. door of opportunity Was closed. The' Labour Government was not responsible for that state of affairs..-' It had pledged itself to alter all that and if it failed in the eyes of the people it would deserve to receive at the next election a' pair of Mr. Semple's running shoes.

"Hard things have been said about us and we have said hard things about the past Government," continued Mr. Webb. "We represent a new order of things and we feel that the old order was responsible for that state of affairs that existed when we came into office. We have pledged ourselves to try to reorganise our economic system in order to provide work and security for all. After all, economic security is one of the greatest things we can strive for in this life.

"We propose to find work for every mail and woman capable of working. We do not believe in the sustenance style of keeping people alive. The Minister of Public Works, Mr. Seinple, ha 9 set out to create a basis to work from with en increase in the wages of single men by 7/ a day and an extra 4/ for married neu. Many are asking where the money is to come from and some of the papers told you before the election that if we came into. power we would probably have to close up in a month. Well, we are still going."

It was not only the Government's intention to find work, continued Mr. Webb, but it. was also going to-find pensions for those who were not able to render social service. It was humiliat-

ing that people should have to go to hospital boards to crave a few crumbs. The Government was "boxing on," and it would not rest until it had fulfilled its promises. For the man who could work, but would not work, however, the Government had no sympathy. He was a parasite on the community, ricli or po<"i', and lie could expect no mercy at the hands of the Government.