"ENOUGH!"

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 120, 17 November 1909, Page 7

"ENOUGH!"

INDUSTRY'S BURDEN"' AN EMPLOYER'S VIEW. INSURANCE AGAINST UNEMPLOYMENT. ' "The whole ground during the time a worker is employed is now practically covered, and there is little scope for further legislation in that direction, except that offered by the revolutionary Socialist who believes that the industrial millennium will be leached when all the initiative and enterprise of individual effort is wiped out, and the State becomes sole owner of all sources of production and supply.'' — Extract from paper prepared by F. W. Hobbs (Christchurch), for the conference of delegates of Employers'- Associations now being held in Wellington. "From a broad humanitarian standpoint," states Mr. Hobbs, "it will be readily admitted that if equitable schemes can be brought forward which will help the worker to tide over periods of unemployment ; which will provide him with a sufficient income to remove the dread of absolute want when decrepitude and age rob him of his earning powers; which will ensure to him m sickness a provision for himself, his wife and his children — such schemes should receive not only our approval but j our earnest and active support in gettingthem carried through. Looked at as a bu&mess proposition on the part of the State such schemes have much to commend them. . . . The State will not, however, reap the full benefit of the improved physical qualities of its people unless they go hand in hand with an improved moral character. The tendency to lean on the State is already very marked, and is an indication of a weakening of individual character and independence." \ The writer reviews interestingly the schemes that have been established in Europe to ensure the worker against sickness and unemployment, and has a lengthy reference to the British proposals to secure, compnlsorily, insurance against unemployment, on the basis, roughly, of 4d a week each from the worker, the employer, and the State. TO ENCOURAGE THRIFT. Passing on to local proposals he praises the National Provident Bill. "This new proposal of the Premier's,"' he says, "demands most favourable consideration because it not only secures an easy means of providing for age, sickness, and incapacity, but because it is based on the cardinal virtue of thrift. 'Self-help •must precede State help,' is the doctrine laid down by the Premier." Mentioning the Hon. A. R. Guiniiess's scheme, which stipulates a contribution from employers (three-fourths of the levy) to insure workers against unemployment, leads Mr. Hobbs to a general comment on the position, of New Zealand's industries. He submits that the conditions here vary very much from those of Britain and other countries. "As employers," he remarks, "we claim that the Arbitration Act already compels the industries to pay the wage necessary to provide a fair living for all time after a worker finishes his apprenticeship. To tax them again would be forcing them to pay part of the charges over again. The incapacity of the worker to meet bad times cannot said to be generally due to insufficient wage rates, but more often arises from that instinct of human nature, as strong in the employers as it is in the workers, which makes us realise the assured pleasures of to-day rather than the possible needs of tomorrow. After other argument, Mr. Hobbs adds : "Another very grave fault of the proposal is that industries in which labour comprises a large proportion of the posts would have to contributeheavily, while those in which the labour costs are small would escape very lightly. SHARE THE BURDEN. • "We 'should now be manufacturing for the great portion of the needs of our people," he concludes, '"but instead of. this being Ihe case, we are met with an enormous expansion in our imports. . . Heavier burdens would tend to further curb this development, and to increase our importations. . . If Parliament passes legislation for compulsory insurance against sickness, accidents outside working hours, or unemployment, then let those who are to benefit find the necessary funds. If this is not entirely possible, let the whole community share the burden of the extra amount required, in the same manner they now do all other calls of the State. As employers we may be prepared to help the administration of such an Act by retaining and handing to the State the prescribed portion of the workers' wage. This in itself is no small thing for us to do. If the fund has to be subsidised we will do our part in ratio with other taxpayers, but we shall fight most strenuously against any attempt to differentiate against us and saddle us with any greater proportion of the costs than that bourne by other taxpayers." Mr. Hobbs received a vote of thanks this morning for his paper, which was not discussed by the conference.