The Grey River Argus TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1948. QUEST FOR MORE LABOUR

Grey River Argus, 9 November 1948, Page 4

The Grey River Argus TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1948. QUEST FOR MORE LABOUR

proposal that recipients of social security ought to be given an opportunity of takingjobs is being put forward by the Manufacturers’ Association of Auckland. The suggestion is that those disposed to accept employment in industry should be assured that by so doing their rights as beneficiaries would be nowise endangered. There is, however, no actual barrier against people qualified for social security choosing instead to accept employment, and forgo the benefit for the time being. The manufacturers say ihgt the object they have in view Js that of increasing production, and that among those on social security there is a very large potential labour force, including a good proportion of skilled workers, who could relieve first class operatives from duties of a less essential character. There certainly are many cases of superannuated Government servants engaging in new employment .at good rates of remuneration, but in addition they obtain their superannuation, whilst it is doubtful how many depending on social security would be ready to sacrifice that benefit in order to obtain a greater income by resuming regular employment. There has earlier been a suggestion that where a worker is ready to remain in regular employment, any saving thereby accruing to the Social Security Fund could be used to augment that worker’s benefit when he does give up employment. The proposal is a reflection of the fact that in New Zealand the policy of the Government has realised the principle of full employment, and that employers no longer can count upon a margin of unemployed from whom to recruit labour as and when they desire to do so. Consequently, the workers would naturally view this idea in the light, not only of a new means to augment the labour force, but of the possibility that it might interfere with the policy of full employment. Social security does not for the wage workers begin whilst their powers are still normal. but rather when these definitely are on the decline. It is the 1 exceptional individual who remains still able to keep up with the average standard of performance. It has been argued that to offer a benefit payment in leisure is to discourage a worker from working, but there is a further consideration, namely, that if tho worker, at the appropriate ago prefers social security, his own inclination should in the circumstances be the proper criterionThe present absence of unemployment is reckoned by many of these employers to be abnormal Otherwise, they say, no propose 1 - for extending the working life of wage’ earners would have been mooted. This anticipation is not one which the country generally could contemplate with as much unanimity as they do. It is true enough that many receiving social security could continue useful work in regular industry, and, provided this would not adversely affect other workers, it might be reasonable to facilitate, their so doing. One method might be to raise the limit upon the amount they could earn in addition to the benefit, but there would need to be a safeguard as against their employment having the effect of lowering the general wages standard. It appears that, radically considered, the right remedy is to increase the population who are of normal working age, both by immigration and by greater help for the family. It is the working class which raises the largest families, ' and it is upon large families that the future welfare of the nation depends to the greatest extent. There is a suggestion that the social security accounts could be built up were workers to forgo benefits when qualified and continue in employment, but those accounts are already being subjected to criticism on account of their dimensions, whilst manufacturing industry has been questioned on the score of monopolising labour. If, however, employers are able to devise adequate inducements themselves, without depending on State support, for workers to remain longer in industry, there should be nobody to question their initiative in that direction.