A POLICY OF THRIFT.

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 151, 30 June 1928, Page 8

A POLICY OF THRIFT.

A policy of preparedness for the rainy day on; the part of every member of the community was preached by the Hon. W. Nosworthy, when speaking in the Imprest Supply debate in the House of Representatives last night. "A great deal of the unemployment that exists to-day," he said, "is caused by the fact that conditions have been so easy ia the past that the people have not grown up in the sense of thrift that exists in some countries where the pepole have had to-toil and fight to make preparation for the rainy day. Making provision for unemployment or sickness is part of the duty, of every individual." ' Mr. W. J. Jordan (Manukau) interjected, suggesting the introduction of an unemployment insurance scheme., "The hori. gent, will get that if. he has patience with the present Government," replied Mr.' Nosworthy. "It is a progressive Government; nobody can say it has not been absolutely progressive—so progressive that the public have complained through the Press on numerous occasions of the Socialistic tendencies of the present Government.'' The members of the Government, he said, claimed that they had a certaia amount of Socialism about them. They wore always prepared to give effect to what was thought to bo sound, but anything that was likely to be of detriment to tire State they did not want. CURING UNEMPLOYMENT. After many hours, of speech-making on the question of unemployment in • the House of Eepresentatives yesterday, the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. 0.. J. Hawken) said that much had been said about the causes of unemployment, but there had been no suggestion as to how it should be cured. The cause was the inability, of industry to pay, the wages demanded. Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central): "You are; in favour of reducing wages?" , . . "Certainly not," replied Mr. Hawken. "Industry ought.to be in th»position, if possible, to pay the wages. I* that is impossible, there is another cure, and that is, that the worker should produce more goods for the wages paid." >< The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. H. 13. Holland): "Provided there is a market for them." The Minister replied that no one I could say there was not a market when the country exported such a great deal. WET DAYS AND A WET BLANKET.. "You* are not blaming the Government for wet days are you?" inquired the Postmaster-General (the Hon. W. I Nosworthy) of Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central) who was speaking in the House of Representatives yesterday on. the question of relief rates of pay for unemployed. • ■ / "No," replied Mr. . Fraser, "even though the lion. Minister may be a wet blanket sometimes. On the other hand, I have seen claims made on behalf Of (ho Reform Party that the good crops and the good weathet were only possibly under its administration. '.'