Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY, June 15, 1927. NINE BOB A DAY.

Grey River Argus, 15 June 1927, Page 4

Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY, June 15, 1927. NINE BOB A DAY.

An unfavourable contrast with Australia is presented by New Zealand with its much greater percentage of unemployed and its economic stagnation. The industrial production of the Commonwealth is worth something over tour hundred millions a year, and ils exports are valued at between £160,000,0DD and £200,000,000. ’ Even our Canadian sporting visitors cannot help noting the prevalence of unemployment. Yesterday light was thrown from three different points upon the Government’s neglect to cope with the situation. In Auckland tho

Chambei’ of Commerce people, upon being' informed that the recent surplus may be the forerunner of no reduction, but of an increase in taxation, expressed doubts as to the reality of the surplus. The Minister of h'inance pointed out to them that the surplus was due to higher duties charged on imports from outside the Empire. Wherever it came from, it surely ought to have placed the Government in so much a better position. Yet, from another quarter there yesterday came an indication that the Ministry is bungling over the problem, the Minister of Labour stating subsidies are to be offered local bodies for relief works on the basis of nine shillings per day for single men and twelve for married men. So much for the Government’s attitude. The Prime Minister was given a sample of the attitude with which the workless regard his starvation wage policy when a Wellington deputation of unemployed were unable to restrain their indignation at his insistence on the wage of nine shillings for single men. We read in the cables disparaging references to Australia’s numerous Labour Governments, but it is impossible for those responsible for such aspersions 1o show social distress in any part of the Gomnionwealth anythin.o' like so serious as that which has at last compelled the New Zealand Government io propose the promised subsidies. Nor is there evidence of any Australian Government proposing so paltry a wage as nine shilliiws per day, let alone actually taking the lead in lowering wages to that level like the Reform Government is now doing in New Zealand. The thing is a disgrace to the country. It its a very unconvincing testimony tn the trustworthiness of the promises of prosperity for everybody | upon which the Reform candidates appealed for votes before last

election, and upon the strength of which secured their seats. The evil of unemployment is growing on the West Coast, but the workers have not much faith in the Government, ami have therefore wasted no time in seeking nine-bob-a-day jobs at the back o’ beyond through the medium of its Depart mental machinery. In the cities the situation is very much i more serious than the majority realise. Thousands of people have their backs to the wall in their fight to keep hunger at bay, but the Government has failed absolutely to formulate any constructive policy for a betterment of the workers’ conditions. It would be infinitely better, from ■ any standpoint, to devise means for well-paid employment in New Zealand than to budget for resources from a tariff which diverts employment to overseas countries, ami compels New Zealanders to pay extra for the produce of those countries to the extent that it is taxed. Even the Minister of Lands allows Australian Labour [ Governments have, knocked spots out of ours in fostering industries that maintain a large population upon wages which, compared with our rates, are affluent. Only that the New Zealand Government plays into the hands of the big importers, money-lenders, and middlemen, it would not have a friend in the country, because Ihe farmers cannot prosper when the masses arc descending into poverty. Some people may imagine thi‘ unemployed were none too polite yesterday towards Mr Coates, but those people ought not to forget how he concluded the Interview with the reiteration that for the single 'workers without ■jobs il is a choice between nine bob a day and nothing at all.