NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 222, 20 June 1928, Page 10

NOTES OF THE DAY

Farmers will’be interested to note the action of the LabourSocialists in the British House of Commons on the Rate Apportionment Bill. This measure, it will be remembered, was introduced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to encourage certain industries by granting them rating relief. Included in the list of those so benefited were farmers. It will be seen from to-day’s cable news that a Labour-Socialist meinber was responsible for an attempt to debar agriculturists from the relief granted under the measuie, and it is apparent from the voting on his motion that he had the solid backing of his Labour-Socialist friends. Happily.for the farmers, he was thoroughly well beaten by 226 votes to 124. Ihe Labour-Socialist all the world over appears to have a deep-rooted sentiment against the man on the land. . . * * * *

Publicity is given this morning to a letter from tlie secietaiy of the New Zealand Workers’ Union on the subject of unemployment relief works. It is an intemperate letter, and concludes with a piece of very bad advice, which it is charitable to icgai d as art outburst of foolish rhetoric. In advising unemployed men to beg borrow, or even steal rather than go to certain Government lehet works as at present conducted, the secretary of the Workers Union gives evidence of a serious lack of balance that very largely discounts his attack on the Public Works Department. Such advice as he tenders is calculated to make grave trouble both for himself and for those whose interests he is paid to serve. As to the allegations made some of these are answered by the departmental officeis, and it is plain that there has been misrepresentation and distortion oi facts as well as a misconception by the complainants as to the obligations of the Department towards the unemployed. At the same time, it is desirable that there should be no room for misunderstanding by those engaged on relief works as to the terms and conditions of their employment. It should be made perfectly cleat to them in advance what the terms of their engagement are. A l oreover, the housing of the men should be made as reasonably com foi table as possible in the emergency conditions under which much of the work has been put in hand. We do not say that this has not been done; we merely stress the point that there should be no room for doubt, in the matter. * * * *

The Washington Hours Convention which the British Government has so far failed to ratify has for its purpose the restriction of working hours to 48 each week. Most of the industries of England are run on this weekly-hour basis, but the houis wotked by'the Continental workmen arc frequently in excess of it. It is understood that the British Government favours the Convention, but has pointed out that it is not simply a matter of subsetibing to the Convention itself. Legislation is required to give effect to the proposal. Unless there is a prospect of the necessary legis ation being passed in the countries signing the Convention it would be of no purpose. Until the other Governments concerned show then willingness to do something practical the British Government cannot afford to risk committing itself in the matter. e # * *

The visit of the Hon. O. J*. Nelson, of Samoa, to Geneva is proving to be of no purpose. It is difficult to conceive how the gentleman in question could have hoped otherwise. Doubtless the consideration extended to him by the New Zealand Goveinnient in connection with his Samoan grievances, when he visited Wellington, led him to think that he could claim similar concessions from the League of Nations. But such a course could not possibly be followed. It would mean that every man in the street or, to be moie piecise, every inhabitant in a mandated territory would have tlie right personally to address the Mandates Commission. Were this permitted, as M’. Briand pointed out, every Jew in Palestine would be making a pilgrimage to Geneva. Before a person can be heard by such a body he must necessarily have some status. Mr. Nelson has a personal grievance, but lie lias no status. I his does not mean that the representations made regarding the Samoan mandate will not he fully investigated. Il merely places Mr. Nelson in his proper perspective, _