DOMINION TOPICS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 256, 25 July 1936, Page 18

DOMINION TOPICS

Employment Problems.

The Labour Department is doing good work in getting men back from unskilled work to employment for which they have special qualifications, but the young men who have had no opportunity of acquiring such qualifications will require special assistance if they are not to, suffer a life-long handicap through no faults of their own. Forbearance on the part of employers, adjustments of industrial regulations, practical assistance and tuition from tradesmen themselves qualified and proud of their craftsmanship will all be necessary if this difficulty is to be overcome. No doubt the State could assist, at least through the early stages of tuition, and the matter is one that should certainly be kept free of party politics. To ask a young man to accept apprenticeship is to place a severe test upon his determination and upon the goodwill of his employer, for it is common knowledge that to make a tradesman of an unskilled adult is much more difficult than to make one of a youth fresh from school. The problem is one that must be faced, and the sooner it is tackled the less difficult will it be to find a solution.— “Taranaki Daily News.”

Circumstances and Conditions. Ministers have expressed their determination to make their wage restoration legislation retrospective to July 1. This has had an effect which Ministers did not perhaps vision. Many contractors entered into commitments before that day and based their prices on the then ruling rate of wages. The unexpected rise in, and retrospective payment of. the wages of their staffs, attended by the enhanced costs of materials, naturally aroused concern among those involved, and to meet the situation the Minister of Labour., recognising that they have~a grievance, has announced that provision will be made for variation of contracts in the legislation it is proposed to enact. This, of course, will be satisfactory to the contractors, but it merely shifts the hardship on to the shoulders of their principals. These, in many cases, based their estimate of expenditure upon then ruling conditions, and to be required to make provision for substantially enhanced payments may entail financial embarrassment. It is comparatively easy to light-heartedly ordain change. • It is frequently difficult to adjust circumstances to altered conditions. —“Waikato Times.” A Cause for Concern.

The very fact that, despite the vastly-improved economic outlook, despite the strenuous efforts already made by the Government, the number of unemployed has not been reduced except through the medium of public works is a cause for serious and justifiable concern. It must be borne in mind, however, that it is yet too early to pass judgment. The Government’s main policy has not yet had an opportunity to function effectively, but because the whole of its policy will be judged by the extent to which it can relieve unemployment the returns from now on will be followed with the closest interest. Whether it will ultimately be found that the real remedy lies in greater freedom for private enterprise. instead of the restriction of it. remains to be seen, but in the meantime, and. indeed, at all times, there is a responsibility upon the community as a whole to co-operate with the Government and do everything that lies within its power to assist in eliminating from the life of the nation the social disease of unemployment.—“ Poverty Bay Herald.”

A Premium on Quality. The depression period of low prices illustrated the tremendous value of quality as a selling point, and the ’-osson should not be forgotten at this stage, when the Government is faced with the task of selling the bulk of our output of butter and cheese on a world market which has become increasingly selective. Marketing conditions to-day necessitate insistence on an exacting .standard of production, and the Government, by promising an enhanced reward for quality, is going the right way about securing such a standard. Some producers, comfortable in the knowledge that they were to receive a fixed price for their produce, might have been inclined to follow the line of least resistance. But they will not be careless about quality while the inducement of a plus margin or the threat of a minus margin exists. Under the arrangement now announced butter in the. superfine grading alone will win a premium.—“Otago Daily Times.”

Dargavillo’s Railway Claims. After an inspection on the spot, the Minister of Public Works has declared his opinion on the railway situation at Dargaville. Stripped of the emphasis which is common to all Mr. Semple’s utterances, his statement declares that the people of Dargaville should be given a railway connection without further delay. The sum involved is trifling in comparison with the Government’s commitments for the completion of the East Coast or South Island Main Trunk lines, and the project is also more defensible on other grounds, for on both sides of the route there are considerable areas capable of development, and the timber trade beyond Dargaville should also benefit. But the question whether the line will pay its way does not appear to have concerned Mr. Semple. That will lie Mr. Sullivan's concern. The final decision is, of course, for Cabinet. However, recent decisions on unfinished railways suggest that Dargaville will not be kept waiting much longer.—Auckland “Star.” Sir James Carroll. It might well be said, indeed, that no gallery of New Zealand’s famous men would" be complete did it not include the well-loved “Timi Kara.” Responsibility for securing this representation rightly belongs to the district which always has been so proud to regard him as its most distinguished son, and the cost of carrying out the project is so comparatively small that it should present no difficulty. To those who cherish happy memories of the late Sir James and to the various local bodies who in the past benefited from his advice and assistance, the proposal now advanced should warmly commend itself. and it is sincerely to be hoped that the opportunity will be promptly availed of to provide this simple but fitting recognition of his many striking qualities and bis great services to the district, and the Dominion.—“ Poverty Bay Herald.”-

Outlook on Immigration. At present there are many who would raise despairing hands against the resumption of immigration. Their outlook is narrow and unimaginative, and if this view prevailed indefinitely the country would never progress. All that the people of New Zealand can do is to know there is need for new population; the initiative in formulating a policy is the responsibility of the Government. “Any policy of migration,” says Mr. Savage, “must embrace the development of the Dominion’s primary and secondary industries.” That, again, is true enough, but it is for the Government to facilitate and encourage the expansion of primary and secondary industries by a wise policy that allows individuals freedom to develop. What is needed now is not a survey of the difficulties that may be associated with migration, but enlightened recognition of the fact that it would be for the good of the country if these difficulties were overcome. Migration is possible; it would be beneficial, and it is for the Government to plan wisely for its resumption.—Christchurch “Press.”

Human Capital. If a war were to break out to-morrow, and if New Zealand were involved, the young unemployed (and. of course, their more fortunate contemporaries who are in sound employment) would immediately be highly valued. If the experience' of 1914 were repeated, they would be invited and urged to enlist for military service. They would be clothed and fed and housed, and they would be expensively trained, all at the expense of the State, for the business of war. The community would approve, and the expense would scarcely be mentioned. Yet those young men would be no different, no less potentially valuable to the community, on the day before the declaration of war than on the day after. The only change would be in the estimate placed upon their value by their fellow citizens. The Government has launched a valuable constructive scheme in an endeavour to reinstate those skilled workers who have been unemployed; it will have the community with it if it now resolves that the services of younger men, who have not had the opportunity of acquiring skill, shall be as fully utilised in peace as they would be in war.— “Auckland Star.” Equality of Facilities. Because of the inexcusable reluctance of several Ministers of the Crown to express definite views of the problem of affording adequate protection to British shipping in the Pacific, the statement issued yesterday by the Minister of Marine will be warmly welcomed in shipping circles. The Minister claimed quite reasonably that the American Government could not object “if the New Zealand Government doos the same as is done with regard to their own shipping.” Obviously, the Minister supports the soundly-estab-lished contention that shipping interests, which trade in the Pacific, regardless of the seas they use, should be afforded equality of treatment and opportunity in the conduct of their business. Ae the Minister suggests, the issue is the self-preservation of British shipping, and only by mutual concessions, not merely on the part of British shipowners, but by all lines operating in the Pacific, will a sound and acceptable understanding be made possible.—“Timaru Herald.” Registered Deathtraps.

That there are cars on the roads which are a menace to their drivers as well as others on the highway is ungalnsayable. It has been demonstrated by numerous accidents, and it is probable a proportion of the deplorable record of the last four weeks, mentioned by the Minister, of two deaths daily, could be traced to this cause. Safe travel on our highways is a vital question, and it is a problem which is receiving world-wide attention on account of the number of casualties reported. In a broadcast address the British Minister of Transport recently stated that 6500 persons had been killed and 210,000 injured during 1935, as compared with 7340 killed and 231,600 injured during the previous year. The decrease was due to the drastic restrictions imposed, but even the reduced figures disclose the startling fact that last year in Britain 87 persons were either killed or injured for every 1000 registered motor vehicles. That surely demonstrates the gravity of the problem—“Waikato Tinies.”

The Fruit Problem. The fruit and produce growers are faced with considerable increases m costs in the coming season,_ and unless these can be recouped in higher prices they will be in a most unhappy position, but prices largely govern consumption, which it, is the desire of growers and middlemen to encourage. Therefore the problem boils down to a question of more efficient and economical marketing. Among the many questions which will have to be looked into are varieties, storage facilities, transport, canning and preserving, and possibly export outlets. There is a teddency for gluts and shortages to alternate, causing fluctuations in prices -which have a disturbing influence on demand. It should be possible for the grower to take more advantage of the higher prices ruling in late autumn, winter and early spring. More study of that aspect should amply repay producers. Another question is that of developing the frost-free areas to a larger extent for citrus and sub-tropical fruit.— “Auckland Star.”

“Development in the Air.” The Government hopes that when the League of Nations holds its assembly in September it will be able to “lay the foundations for a stronger international barrier against war,” but if that hope cannot be realised New Zealand must be prepared to join with the other countries of the Empire in the protection of the common interests. In the meantime, what is to be the New Zealand policy? Mr. Savage says it is to be “development in the air,” because air transport is essential in time of peace and strength in the air would be a vital factor in time of war. If this has any real meaning it means that the Government intends to undertake the development of air services that could be converted to military purposes, the train ing of pilots, observers and mechanics, the increase of the present very inadequate Air Force and an immediate increase in the number of military machines. It should mean. also, the formation of coast patrols and t>be construction of military aerodromes at convenient points.—Christchurch “StarSuns’. 1 .