LOOKING FOR WORK OR TROUBLE

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 138, 15 June 1927, Page 8

LOOKING FOR WORK OR TROUBLE

We dp not doubt that tho majority of tho men who formed yesterday >s un-

employed deputation were genuine unemployed, willing and anxious to work. But there were some, who made enough disturbance for a: multitude, who were looking not for woric but for trouble. They defied their own leaders and the Labour Members of Parliament who prosented the deputation, and chose instead the leadership of a man whom the Labour Unions have disowned—an avowed Communist faithful to the classwar doctrine. Under this leadership these men, while advancing the urgentnecessity of relief measures, rejected the offer of work at relief rates. Their attitude unfortunately may hinder the assistance which the '• community is anxious to give to the real unemployed. It is in keeping with the behaviour of another well-known Communist who advised an unemployed committee in advance that it would be no use, offering him " sylvan 'or horticultural occupation." If the injurious effects of the agitation and strife-making efforts of these men are not to fall upon the shoulders ; of the deserving workless, there must be a clear separation of those who want work and those who want trouble. The former can be helped, but it is useless attempting to satisfy the latter.

With a genuine desire to make the best of the present situation— and not the worst—the Government's proposals offer prospects of speedy improvement. Already the Government is doing its utmost in the prosecution of its own relief vorks to provide for men whom

it can employ. It now offers to support similar efforts by local authorities throughout the Dominion. This form of assistarce is really more effective than direct Government employment, since it will enable the unemployed to be aided where they are. Tho terms of the offer do not meet with the approval of all the Labour organisations,

who want union rates of pay.

But the

emergency must be met by emergency conditions. Belief works are to be extraordinary works, for thoso who can find no other employment. It ih not dosired or expected that tho men ongnged will stay on the job a day longer than they can help. They are urged to take other work at higher rates of pay if they can find it. Tho fear that union rates of pay will be broken down is quite without foundation. The work to bo dono will uot be in competition with commercial enterprises carried on with labour at award ratea. Even if it were in such competition, we cannot see that it would havo a damaging effect. Belief works, oven at low rates of pay, must be carried out upon such conditions and with so little regard to the competence of the workers that they can scarcely prove profitable. Proof of this contention is found in the Public Works Department's insistence that relief works shall be separated from its ordinary operations because the former are moro expensive. It is to be hoped that tho genuine workers will see the reason of this, and will disown Communist leaders and join with the Government and local authorities in applying the/available measures of relief.