MACHINES AND WORK

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 137, 6 December 1930, Page 13

MACHINES AND WORK

.-.. ''Tariffs are.' being: utged, .by. pne.c'ounr try against the. other,' in ... order. ,to_pi-o-teet their industries against competition, but how often do we hear our. politicians, and labour leaders, urge, protection of the workers against the use of machinery here in New Zealand" (writes "Optimist"). "It seems to me that-the whole,;trendof our civilisation is ;to do a\yay witli as much labour ,as possible,.and use machinery instead. What the outcome of all this will be, it is hard to say, • because machinery has less needs than .a ■ coolie. Who is going to consume the products,'if a large part of the people'are '. .not required ? No doubt many people ■ have said harsh things'about the ■ unemployment levy, but to me, as a;watel'sider, it sepms.that it.maybe a-blessing:in disguise! There are hundreds of men on the waterfront who, iv the past four months, have .not averaged more than a pound a week, and there are 'maliy blanks this week. When you hear associations telling the -people-that wages-must Come. d.oW.nj, it -seems .rather. jronical,,:.wlien ', t'hou.sands of workers "have no'work, or wages;' thpy could not g'd'mu'cli lower! Witli' the ii'dr vent of: machinery on the; waterfront: the aiiiouut of work' put through "is far greater than formerly, and with less, labour. If the unemployment levy. will. . be the means'of .inducing' 50' per cent, .of tlie watersidefsVvt'q". go to the. country and work for the farmers, they would lead', iv. fur healthier life than wasting: their time sitting on the. stringers, watching the .'same men,- day after day, getjtihg. the' pick ..of the jobs while they themselves are" waiting, for the wool and cheese" to-come, .down, so they can turn the corner to prosperity. It '■ ought to-be a great' day of -rejoicing for the farmers to know that ■ they will have a. good'supply of labour, and if farmer and worker pull together there should be no reason why they should, not become the best of friends instead, as. in the past, the worst 'of enemies." '