EMPLOYMENT PROMOTION

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 May 1936, Page 5

EMPLOYMENT PROMOTION

HOUSE DEBATE CONTINUED [per press association.] WELLINGTON, April 30. - in thA House the second reading dX‘ Cononiat on and Arbitration Amendment B 1 re M™Meaclien said the action of the d E n"aid the standard ot Hving in New Zealand was already higher thfn in many other countries, and he &“t The mistake was making was that i world was isolating itself from the world. It had' to be remembered that what eve? Jas spent in New Zealand they, could get back only what the pur chasers of New Zealand goods gave for them. He thought the Governmeat was trying to bring the, country back to prosperity too quickly. He said it was wrong that every man should be dragooned into joining a union. ’ It was a retrograde step. He did not think reducing hours would; increase efficiency. He considered that New Zealand should have regard to the conditions of other countries. He thought things should be left as they were for the time being. Mr Petrie said the Opposition s attitude to the Bill could be traced to social conditions that had been handed down to them from the days of semi-barbarism. The continuation ot the last Government’s policy would have meant strangulation of industry, have forced traders into difficulties, and workers into permanent idleness, with consequent misery. Mr Broadfoot considered the Bill was a product of trade union pressure, and into it had been written the rabid desires of union officials. According to the designers of the legislation, employers appeared to be a parasitical class who were to be eliminated from the social structure of the community. Employers would be subject to.greater pressure in future by union officials, and it would be a case again of the tiger, having once tasted blood, wanting more blood. With the powers in the Bill, the virtual control of industry would pass from the employers, not to the workers, but to trades union officials or union “bosses,” and it would not be in the interests of the Dominion. He saw in the Bill the undermining of the present social system and a peaceful revolution which might bring disaster to the country.He did not think the people of the Dominion realised what was going on under the measures introduced, and to be introduced by the Government. He thought the Government’s majority was not a mandate to place almost revolutionary legislation on the Statute Book. The basic wage, too, was not to apply to Government employers. Surely, that was unfair discrimination between the State and private employers. What was the necessity for the basic wage? It applied only for those under awards, and awards always provided a minimum wage. He contended the provisions of the Bill were unwarranted interference with individuals in the Dominion.

Mr Herring said he was sorry the Bill did not go far enough. It dealt only with wages and conditions, and they provided no way out. It did not provide any real solution. The real solution in his opinion was work, and the control of industry. That industry had to belong tok the workers who were engaged in it. He claimed that was the next step in progress. Unionists must be trained to the idea that they must take over all affairs relating to industry, and that it should be run for their benefit and the consumers’ benefit.

Mr Hargest said that Mr Herring's idea was straight-out Communism and nothing else, and it was rather enlightening to hear the chorus of approval from the Government benches. The basic wage, he said', was beingbrought down without any consideration of the ability of the industry to pay it. He thought the provision was unwise, particularly at a time when industry was being rehabilitated. He agreed with high wages if an in r diLStry was in a position to pay them. r £he debate was adjourned.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WELLINGTON, May 1. The Legislative Council met at 10.30 a.m. and went into committee on the Labour Department Amendment Bill, which was put through all stages and passed. The Council went into committee on the Employment Promotion Bill. A protest, was raised by Messrs Alexander, Allen, and McCallum, on the principle which gave employment tax priority over all other charges, and it was pointed out that small mortgagees might suffer hardship. In response to requests Mr. Fagan, Leader of the Council undertook to carry the representations to the Government.

The Bill was passed, and the Council adjourned.