The Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1938. NEW INDUSTRIES.

Grey River Argus, 14 December 1938, Page 6

The Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1938. NEW INDUSTRIES.

When the dominion had over 50,000 unemployed, with twice as many more depending on them, the only cure that either the last Government or its present press apologists had to offer was worse than the disease. That cure was the dole.’ The dole advocates have admittedly been on their part proclaiming ever since that public works as a remedy have been worse than the dole. Needless to say they never have been, nor expected themselves to be, on the dole. But they are now ready to put a construction favourable to their dole philosophy upon the Government’s intention to divert as many as possible from public works to other industrial activity. The reason, they say, is that the Government has found public works too costly. Nevertheless the very possibility of many workers being absorbed into-new or iexpanded secondary industries is questioned at the same time that a decision to reduce the number on public works is advocated. lienee the fate df the workers does not at aH troubl’e the Opposition press or politicians. In fact, a goodly margin of unemployed, to compete at lower rates of pay for subsistence, is in that quarter reckoned’ a condition precedent for bigger profits on capital. This is where to draw a line between the present Government and the last one. To the extent that workers can be found alternative employment, at a living wage, this Government is ready to curtail public works. It is taking, the requisite steps to afford that alternative employment, before proposing’ such transfer of labour, by a process of regulating imports, especially such as could be x produced by New Zealand workers? But it meets only with suspicion, criticism and even misrepresentation as regards the policy of expanding secondary industrial enterprise, which remarkably contrasts with' the welcome given, the counterpart of this project represented by a reduction of public works. The latter are described, along with the social security policy, as “ spoon-feed-ing” for'the working class. Did this Government, however, restore the dole, and allow labour to be •exploited wholesale, would the Opposition press and those it represents describe that as “spoonfeeding” capital? Not by a long chalk. It would be called “greater ■ development -of self-reliance and less State interference with industry.” To the worker, it is no more' attractive to obtain wages from a private employer than from ■ 'the.- Statd. ‘ If the wages offered by the State are the better, they naturally are preferable. If the private capitalist cuts wages, no worker could b.yany means regard it as a “greater development of self reliance” so far as labour .is concerned. It is very clear that the present Government stands between the whole wage and salary,earning class and those whose idea 6f economic .freel- - is simply the license to rob the workers "at the point of production. 1 On the other hand, the Government’s stand in this regard had till lately been called a policy 'of advanced Socialism, whereas the present endeavour of the Government to promote industrial expansion on the'part of private enterprise, while it is-admitted not to be anything of the sort, is yet being damned with faint praise both as being doubtful of success and as being tolerable only because it might be preceded by a reduction 1 of public works. Now it is absolute nonsense to suggest tliat a lowering- in the livingstandard of ’Workers, -who are the great majority, makes for, nation* al prosperity. If unemployment again created, the country will’

not avert any economic difficulties, but will be landed in such | difficulties. The test is the condition of the masses and not what is said by exploiters of labour. If the Government is for new industries and more industrial activity,, the reason is fundamentally that | it. wishes to increase employment and population and to keep the standard of living from going back anywhere near the dole level. ■ If that be calculated to induce young people or- capital, or anything else worth while to. fly away;’nobody is able to supply an explanation. The only capital likely to flit is what belongs to those whose highest hopes repose in-the exploitation of the working class. The'capital in question is obtained within the country, and ought to remain. Insofar, therefore, as the Government aims to prevent loss of it, the plan is commendable, but' it might be no harm if means could be devised which, while retaining it, would cause the owners to hop out.