NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 28, 27 October 1932, Page 8

NOTES OF THE DAY

Judged by some recent remarks dropped in debate some members of Parliament have not appreciated the of cnticism so g Mr nllv directed against the proceedings of their House. It is not, as i ir. Hardest has suggested, that Parliament is urged to be silent but rather that its members should speak to SO T e It is not, as he puts it, a matter of too much talk or too litt e talk, but that the talk should be to the point. Mr. Hargest himself peihans unconsciously, clinches the argument by describing the barren Xe of the last 7 Imprest debate as “a tedious and unfruitfu discussion.” Money was voted “at the rate of millions a minute and no one said a word,” although control of public expenditure is Parliament’s primary and most responsible function. * * *

Arresting words were used by the British Prime Minister in speaking in the House of Commons on the Labour Party s vote of censure 5 “The unemployment problem,” Mr. MacDonald said is one not merely of sympathy but of business and finance and o devising ways of providing work.” In New Zealand discussions on th stibjecHiow many weigh all these factors in the problem? Usually two are left out —constructive schemes of providing work and the question of ways and means. But the point that must provoke thought is that unemployment has become more than a matter of sympathy , in Dlr. MacDonald’s words it has become a matter of business and finance. That suggests ominously the chronic nature of the disease and its seeming permanence. Those members of the New Zea and Labour Party who followed Mr. Savage in suggesting economic self-sufficiency as a cure should also note that Mr. MacDonald thinks that nothing less than international economic co-operation will go to the root oi the problem. ' 1 * * * ’

It is encouraging to note the success which has attended the Unemployment Board’s scheme for assisting gold prospectors. ’Steady returns of gold are being made by quite a large number of nuneis who have been assisted from the unemployment funds,” states the deputychairman of the Board, Mr. Jessep. It is mentioned that the recent “lucky strike” at Cromwell was largely due to the help and advice given the miners by the local supervisors and the mining engineer, and the men have expressed their gratitude and appreciation of the fact. With the return of warmer weather, the work of the gold-seekers should be made easier, and the prospecting area extended. From the Unemployment Board’s point of view the assistance given is turning out not a bad investment. Ten per cent, of the value of the gold won is returnable to the Board, to be used for equipping other prospectors from the ranks of the unemployed. During August and September the value of the gold won by 800 men in Central Otago approximated £3600, so that the Board recovered £360 from its expenditure in assisting the men.