AHEAD OF U.SA.

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 40, 16 August 1937, Page 9

AHEAD OF U.SA.

N.Z. LABOUR CONDITIONS

MR. ARMSTRONG'S VIEW

TALK WITH C.1.0. HEAD

(United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.)

WASHINGTON, August 13.

i The New Zealand Minister of Labour (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) yesterday interviewed Mr. J. L. Lewis, chairman of the Committee for Industrial Organisation,'whom he informed that he personally favoured the industrial type of union but did not feel it proper to "jam it down their throats." Mr. Armstrong obtained a general impression from Mr. Lewis that New Zealand was ahead of the United States by many years in the, development of a labour programme and that Mr. Lewis was engaged in organisational work which New Zealanders had accomplished in past years.

Mr. Armstrong intimated to Mr. Lewis that, while opposed to compulsory arbitration, he might find that his opinion would change with the years. The Minister was convinced that New Zealand workers had better wages and greater purchasing power than most workers in the world. He expressed the opinion that the American dole did not compare in size with New Zealand's.

He said the New Zealand Government was considering the introduction of a blanket' system of insurance for all citizens, who would receive help in the event of incapacity or unemployment. The scheme should be'borne by the workers instead of by the taxpayers. He intimated that an' appeal to the Privy Council on the clerical workers' 'decision would not be necessary, since Parliament at the next session would enact a law again defining the position of the "white-collar" workers.