"FIRST THINGS FIRST"

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 127, 31 May 1928, Page 12

"FIRST THINGS FIRST "

PROVIDING- FOR WORKLESS MR. P. FRASER'S REPLY Mr. P. Frascr, M.P., has .forwarded tho following statement to "The Post":— "I notice that Mr. M'Laren, on behalf of the Civic League, gratuitously and humbly tenders protection to sthc Mayor and City Council from their allegedly harsh critics on the question of the council's action, of inaction, in regard to unemployment. I am certain that' neither the Mayor nor City Councillors concerned require any such Uriah Hecp sort of defence, and will scarcely thank Mr. M'Laren for his fussincss. They are experienced public men, and arc accustomed to looking after themselves. Mr. M'Laren's statement is not a defence of, it is a reflection on, the Mayor and councillors. . "Nothing that I said at the meeting of unemplbyed workers can bo construed as a personal attack on anyone, but I certainly reserve tho right to criticise the Mayor and City Councillors, or any other individual orv group of individuals, in public life, it' I think the occasion warrants such criticism. At tho same time I am prepared to accept criticism for aiiy attitude I may adopt' on any subject, and I freely receive siame. I refuse altogether to look upon any public man, or any public position, as sacrosanct. "What I said about the Art Gallery and Dominion Museum campaign I now repeat. I admire the Mayor for tho energy and enterprise which he, along with the committee appointed, have shown in raising money for 'the splendid group of buildings which will one day crown Mount Cook. I wholeheartedly approve of the scheme, but I believe that if similar energy had been shown by the City Council in the matter of organising work for the unemployed much of tho distress prevalent would have been relieved. I believe in first things first, and consider the urgent needs of men, women, and chiltlren more important than even the most beautiful buildings. "I have never claimed, because it would bo ridiculous' to do so, that; I, and those associated with me politically, have a monopoly of concern for human flesh and blood. Sympathy and kindness are attributes common to all mankind. It was not personal feelings .that I was discussing, but public administration. ART GALLERY AND MUSEUM. "I did not suggest for one moment that the Art Gallery and Dominion Museum campaign was pushed forward to conflict in any way with any scheme for providing work for the unemployed. I caiinot understand' tho mentality that could conceive of anyone entertaining such a fantastic and silly idea. There was no risk of conflict between the two schemes, but I certainly placed tho relief of unemployment as bcing^ the more urgent, and I do so now. •"Nothing has been more disappointing for a long time than tho spectacle of the Mayor and City Council sitting inactive in regard to tho problem of work for the unemployed, at thp Town. Hall for over a fortnight after the depuation from the unemployed had' waited on his Worship tho Mayor, in spito of the fact that the Government had publicly announced its intention, through tho Right Hon. R. A. Wright, of giving tho same amount of subsidy to relief work undertaken by local bodies as it gave last year, while the unemployment situation was getting worse daily. Tho only excuse given, as far as I can see, is that there was still some haggling to be done over the amount of Government subsidy between tho council and the Cabinet. "I certainly think the subsidy should bo much higher, but refuse to believe that it was essential to allow the unemployment situation and tho hardship, sovero enough as it was for many families, to become much, more acute before work could bo put in hand by tho City Council. A start could surely (have been made with work even if the settlement of the subsidy basis was left in abeyance for a week or t,wo. I feel certain that the vast majority of the ratepayers of Wellington would support a scheme for organising useful work for the unemployed even if there was no Government subsidy at all. At the samo time I repeat what tho Labour Party has said frequently that the question of unemployment is a national one, and should be dealt with on a nation-wide basis. But if national organisation is not undertaken tho local bodies must surely shoulder their share of the responsibility without disastrt)is delays. "All things considered, I am compelled to state that, in view of his past and pfesent political affiliations and associations, I cannot possibly accept Mr. M'Laren as a mentor or authority, in matters of public controversy, on fairness, good, taste, accuracy, generosity, or consistency."