“Chasing Rainbows”

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 30, 29 October 1932, Page 13

“Chasing Rainbows”

Sir, —Your leading article under the above heading in to-day’s issue should provide food for thought to. many who like myself have grown old in the trade union movement Your advice, to the Labour movement to “stick to its muttons” will no doubt be much appreciated. You contend that the Labour Party has put forth no constructive policy to overcome the present deplorable situation. but, Sir, does not this also apply to the Press? If you or any of your contemporaries have at any time come out in the open to give a lead in that direction I have unfortunately missed the article. Labour never has been, content to concentrate on wages and hours as implied by you: general conditions of labour have been at all times the main consideration. Again, Sir. with all due respect to yourself and the "Manchester . Guardian,” Labour has at no time suggested that policies should be framed for eternity.

In regard to the means test in Britain, is it not a fact that our. Unemployment Board beat them to it, arid Labour in New Zealand placed no obstacle in the way? Now, -Sir, will you explain why it is necessary to work eight hours a day in this machine age in face of the fact that we can produce in, say, six months sufficient to provide for our yearly consumption? Do you admit such to be the case, and if so do you support our claim for shorter hours as a factor in the solution of the unemployment problem? ' If not. will you kindly explain why we should have an unemployed army in an undeveloped country or how they can be absorbed? On looking back just on half a century and realising that our hours, of labour are unchanged, I feel inclined to forget Labour Day, as I am not proud of the progress made during the period. As so-called money has no fixed value, increased rates of pay have been a poor guarantee of progress. I contend that in this country there should be no unemployment, unemployment boards and relief associations as we know them to-day. When the farmers realise that they .are but glorified managers of their holdings and that our Government has ceased to function except through commissions, boards, etc., we may be in a position to put our house in order with very little" trouble and in an incredibly short space of time. In conclusion I might state that I am of opinion you also realise the truth of the above statements, though for some reason you persist in throwing dust in our eyes while unable to state a case in defence of a system which is responsible for widespread poverty, unemployment and rainbow chasers, and also for the depression, which has created some extremely difficult problems.—l am, etc'., M. LARACY. Petone, October 24.