HOLDING THE BALANCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 68, 17 September 1936, Page 8

HOLDING THE BALANCE

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—The Government's role of umpire in the game of life as depicted in the letter of Mr. J. Tohill, in my view, is its correct function. In the seesaw of industrial life the Government's job is to maintain equilibrium between the parties. Obviously any undue weight either way will topple the show over. This holds good as between Capital and Labour, employer and employee, landlord and tenant, borrower and tender,. mine owner and miner, and in all walks of life. But what do we find? The Minister'of Mines openly stated that his sympathies were with the miner. The Minister of Labour declares in effect that the Arbitration Court will be supported so far as it gives what Labour wants. Moreover, in discussions in the House one hears in Labour oratory such terms as "exploiters," "usurers,1 "unscrupulous landlords," "unscrupulous employers," and "unscrupulous farmers." Sir, I have been m Now Zealand well over fifty years and have worked for many employers, and without exception they were all decent men and good New Zealanders. From my experience the average man is a great believer in justice and fair play, which I commend to the Labour Government.—l am. etc.,

A SCOT.