DR M'MILLAN AND THE MILLENNIUM.

Evening Star, Issue 23503, 17 February 1940, Page 4

DR M'MILLAN AND THE MILLENNIUM.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—The remarks of . Dr M'Millan at the council meeting on Monday evening provide interesting reading. “ Young people should be encouraged to qualify themselves for higher positions. It takes six years for a young man to secure his B.E. degree at the University, and we offer him a position at less than £5 per week. I think we should offer a higher salary.” Daring the debate on the Financial Statement in 1937, according to ‘ Hansard ’ (No. 248, page 569), Dr M'Millan said: “ I personally believe that everybody should have equal remuneration,

and whenever I have met the worker! us an employers’ representative I have always put that to tliem. But in every case they have declined to consider th* suggestion. Neither .the workers, nor anyone else it seems, is ready for equality of incomes, and as long as we hav* inequality of incomes we must,' I hold, pay people according to their work, m accordance with their value to, the community.” , . . . Dr M'Millan’s confession remind* one of the story of the old lady who wen* to see her soldier son’s regiment march away to war: “They are all qot of step except oor Jock.” I note that Dr M'Millan indicated what he would do about enlistment “ if he were dictator of New Zealand.” Perhap* the wish was father to the thought, and if that day ever comes—which God forbid—then the ambitions young people who followed his advice of Monday night will be “ liquidated ” in due course.—l am, etc., Back to Eabth. February 16.