DOMINION TOPICS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 109, 1 February 1941, Page 15

DOMINION TOPICS

Ministerial Pin-Pricking.

On the strength of entirely insufficient evidence, the Minister suggested that the recent complaints might be attributable to faults in “the relationship between employers and employees in individual factories,” went on to preach "co-operation between employer and employee,” ami declared his certainty that what had been “achieved in isolated cases” could be achieved generally, "if the correct approach is made to all problems involved.” Nobody will believe that Mr. Sullivan aimed this at the employees. His references to the two model factories are so framed, in fact, as to show that his purpose was to find an excuse for the employees in a counter-charge against their employers. One question may be asked: whether Mr. Sullivan’s “inquiries” satisfied him that, in the factories seriously affected by absences after the holidays, employer-employee relations are bad and helped to keep employees away. He has no shadow of right to suggest it without being able to prove it. For the suggestion, without proof, there is only one motive. It would be pardonable in a trade union advocate; it is unworthy of a Cabinet Minister. If employers were in the wrong on a plain issue, Mr. Sullivan should and would say so, and say it plainly and forcibly. The absentee-employees are in the wrong on this plain issue. Why hars he tried to cloud it?—“The Press,” Christchurch.

War Prisoners for Farm Labour. The employment of Italian prisoners as farm labourers in New Zealand has? been suggested by Mr. R. C. Clark, chairman of the Auckland Primary

Production Council. The proposal is not likely to be adopted by the Government, for several reasons. Ethically there Will be objection to the plan. There is also the difficulty of shipping accommodation. And if Italians were landed in New Zealand it is very doubtful if the return they would give would compensate for the cost involved. They would have to be guarded constantly and they would be entirely inexperienced in farm practice in the Dominion. It is true that Germany is employing prisoners as labourers to increase production in the Reich, but this is not Germany and the methods the Nazis employ could not be used in New Zealand. There is, of course, no good reason why war prisoners should not be asked to perform useful tasks. In fact, such employment is often eminently desirable even from the prisoners’ point of view. It is, however, another master transport prisoners half-way round the world and set them to work about which they would probably know very little. —“Waikato Times.” The Cabinet Re-Shuffle.

If Mr. Semple has regrets over his transference from the Public Works Ministry to the Railways Ministry, they will doubtless be mitigated by the reflection that there will be smaller funds for expenditure in the future than have indulgently been placed at the disposal of the Minister in the past five years. Mr. Sullivan will become the Minister in charge of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, aud a relation between the purposes of this department and that of the department of Industries and Commerce, which he administers, is not indiscernible. Mr. Semple’s mantle as Minister of Public Works descends upon Mr. Armstrong, who hands over the office of Minister of Health, after a brief tenure of it, to Mr. Nordmeyer. This change was to be expected, as Mr. Nordmeyer was the chairman of the parliamentary committee that recommended the adoption of the social security scheme. It will be upon Mr. Nordmeyer, therefore, that the task will fall of attempting to inaugurate the general practitioner scheme, of which Dr. McMillan claims the authorship. As the members of the medical .profession have, through their organization, announced that out of loyalty to their colleagues who are abroard on active service they will not accept contracts under the scheme, and as the co-operation of the profession is necessary if it is to be sucessfully operated, Mr. Nordmeyer will meet with some difficulty at the very outset of his Ministerial career.—“Otago Daily Times.”

Domestic Expenditure. It is to be hoped that the Government's policy in regard to railway construction will be reviewed, and that no more money will be spent in the construction of lines that will never pay their way and in some cases are rendered unnecessary by the development of motor traffic. The question of the provision of “essential public buildings,” mentioned by the Minister, is another matter that should be approached with deliberation, for in this time of war many things that are desirable will have to wait for more favourable conditions. Bearing on this matter, the Minister says that the classes of work that are not so essential as others are being tapered off fairly rapidly as men are required for the armed forces or other work of greater national importance at this juncture. This is a good principle, which it is to be hoped the Government will follow closely. The people of this Dominion will grudge nothing in the way of money that will further the country’s war obligations, and equally they will gladly facilitate all practical measures for the rehabilitation of our soldiers when they return from their self-sacrificing services.— Dunedin “Evening Star.”

Development Work in Wartime.

The Minister of Finance listed, in the Budget last year, national undertakings which would be comprised in a loan programme of £15,083,000. He said last week that the additional capital required by the Government might fall short of this Budget estimate. It is to be observed that he did not commit himself to the statement that it would fall short of the Budget estimate: it might do so. This lack of definiteness in public utterances is characteristic of the Minister, but it cannot be said of it that it is likely to be viewed with satisfaction by the publie, which is expected to provide the funds that are sought. Borrowing for public works must, Mr. Nash asserted in the Budget, be reduced to the minimum required for essential works when so much is required for war purposes. It is impossible to believe that all the undertakings comprehended in a loan programme of £15,000,000 are essential works. If Mr. Nash wishes to persuade the public that they are essential works it will be necessary for him to specify the undertakings on which it is designed to spend the proceeds of the loan. — “Otago Daily Times.”

The Export Restrictions. Quite apart from production and shipping problems, New Zealand herself must, thriftily examine the implications on her economy of restrictions on exports. Her national income is bound to be affected, more or less seriously, and also her sterling exchange balances. Meat alone brought in £19,500,000 last season. Farmers have the assurance that their beef, mutton and lamb will be purchased at scale rates this season, but so far the Government has no definite arrangement with the British Government for payment prior to shipment. It may have to carry stored meat, in part or in whole. Nor is there any certainty that other produce may not be affected by shipping restrictions. New Zealand may have to face the consequences of a serious fall, not in production, but in realizations of produce—a fall in national income. Imports may be further affected by the shrinkage of credits. Here, again, common prudence demands that the Government and everyone else should look ahead.. In every department of public and private life, except in respect of war activities, the logic and reason of the situation call for the strictest economy.—“ New Zealand Herald.”

Labour on Farms. It was made clear in a discussion by members of the Taranaki County Council that the problem, of supplying efficient labour on farms has not yet been solved. The discussion was entirely non-political and the question was approached solely from the viewpoint of production in the future. It seems quite evident that Great Britain will require all the cheese and meat the Dominion can export, and it is obvious that if the output of these commodities is to be increased that planning must be for the future as well as for the current season. The response of Taranaki farmers to the appeal for increased production has been most encouraging. But if it is true, as was asserted at the county council discussion, that to bring it about has entailed undue hardship upon women and children the'outlook for a still larger output next season is not .good. If a farmer desirous of increasing production is faced with' the probability of inflicting hardship on his wife and family in the process it will not be surprising if he decides that a further increase in farm output is beyond his capacity.—“Taranaki Daily News.”

Secrecy. That there is far too much loose talking in New Zealand about shipping movements cannot be denied. Who, for instance, told the story of the Rangitane? Most people will find it hard to realize that no mention of that name was printed in the newspapers up till January 2, when the official announcement of her fate was made. But was there anybody in New Zealand who had not heard the story, highly garnished and accompanied by the usual multiplication of losses following every spoken story? It has been the same with other disasters; half the country knows about it within a few hours—and the information could only come from a very limited number of sources. While that is going on there is no hope of keeping back information which may be of use to the enemy or to any of his .agents in New Zealand. It may be passed on through neutral ships after they have left our shores, but under modern methods of detection it should be impossible for it to get out by direct wireless from inside our coasts. —“Auckland Star.”

Holding Up the War Effort. At a time when prompt shipment to comply with, military necessities is of the first importance, the trouble at the Auckland export cool stores is unfortunate for New Zealand. At ordinary times there may be good reason for the discouragement of Sunday work, but these are far from ordinary times. Enemy attacks on the British mercantile marine Have produced such conditions that the best possible use must be made of every available ton of shipping. And further, with enemy raiders lurking off the coasts it is essential that shipping should be closely disciplined and operated to a definite schedule for convoy and other'purposes. Delay to one ship might have disastrous results. Do not those considerations weigh with the cool store workers? Is their refusal to work in accordance with the spirit that is expected of New Zealanders? Is it consonant with the efforts of those who are slaving on the waterfronts and in the factories of Britain? Is it fair to New Zealand’s own soldiers who are fighting in the Western Desert?—‘Waikato Times.”

The Canteen Inquiry. So many complaints are being received about the N.Z.E.F. canteen service in Egypt that the Government has been wise in not delaying the setting up of a committee empowered to make a searching inquiry into the service provided. Letters and articles have been published that leave little doubt that Hie New Zealand canteen service lags behind the Australian, both in regard to prices and to the quality and range of stock, and that is a position that is a reproach that cannot be disregarded; public opinion requires one thing above all others, that New Zealand soldiers overseas should enjoy all the comforts and help to the very limit of possibility, and that the service provided for them should be second to none. The personnel of the committee has been well chosen and should assure a competent and exhaustive inquiry into the subject. With Brigadier N. S. Falla, well-known as chairman and managing director of the Union Steam Ship Company, and with Colonel W. G. Stevens and Mr. Harry Turner, thp commercial and military side of the question should be in safe hands."—