SOCIAL SECURITY

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25583, 26 August 1948, Page 3

SOCIAL SECURITY

“WHOLE OBJECT OF EXISTENCE ” STATEMENT ON EXCHANGE TO FARMERS’ MEETING “If the people of New Zealand thought less about social security, and did not lean on it for everything, and make it the whole object of their existence. New Zealand would, in the long run, be infinitely better on, said Mr J. W. Earl, chairman of the provincial executive of the North Canterbury district of Federated Farmers, when making a statement on the change in the exchange rate at a meeting of the executive yesterday. a lt is pure unadulterated nonsense for our politicians to shout that we must have more production, and completely forget that in order to produce, one must work, and in order to provide for social security, one must work harder still ” Mr Earl said. “The dignity and true value of work is certainly at a discount in this so-called 40hour week of ours. “Farmers have been more vitally affected by the change than any other section of the community,” Mr Earl said. "There was enough uncertainty, confusion, and doubt in New Zealand before the Budget, and the welter of words, opinions, and statements that have been uttered since, and will continue for many months, have only intensified the bewilderment. No one can say with any certainty what the ultimate effects will be, but a person would be very rash and unwise to be dogmatic on this or that at the present time. "It would appear, however, that the whole of our economy is geared to provide for the cost of our ever-mounting social services. There is only one policy in New Zealand, and that is social security. Representative Meeting Proposed “I feel certain that as a result of the Budget, every farmer will join the federation, so that we can speak with one voice. In my opinion, it would be advisable to wait a while before coming to any decision as to action, so that the practical effects of the Budget may possibly be clearer. In the meantime I urge strongly that arrangements be made immediately for this federation to call a meeting of representatives of manufacturers, industrialists, imeorters, exporters, trade unions, etc., > form definite plans for submission to the Government, calling for an overhaul of Government departments so that surplus men could be transferred to the all essential field of primary production. There must be hundreds of such men, especially those in certain non-revenue departments. In primary production, they will be of definite use x to the country. “It is an undeniable fact that primary production is the basic industry of this country, and we farmers should give a lead to other groups, because they are virtually dependent on us. The basic industry is not social security, or the 40-hour week, as so many people delude themselves into thinking." Mr Earl’s statement was approved.