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Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1921, Page 2

j -UJDKJiSSUNo Uic UlUSgovv CnamOtH' oi } v.uinnicl'cu on ’"me jjadOib uuVeiliuig j. loaucuun anu tut* onaracter ui XxulUb- > ukii j. oucy Acquired to improve iliu- \ uuua rosmon, Lord Heir outlmeu .. policy which xue considered would me inuusuial atmospnere, ie- | .. „ an.cn eutnusiasm and enterprise, anu I s me way to practical co-operation, xnc lonowing wore tnc main points: temporary stuoilization ot wage races lor twelve months; the assumption 01 responsibility for unemployment 1 relict by industry as a whole, not sec- , tioimlly as has been proposed j certain changes in the incidence of taxation in industry; the removal oi trade un- < ion obstruction to payment by results; tlio recognition by the State of the principle oi' freedom of employment; I the temporary increase of working hours; and a reduction and suspension |of Government activities in costly schemes for social reform until the industrial performance of the country and ‘ the consequent financial position war- : rant their re-adoption. In discussing this policy in detail, Lord Weir stated ' that if the Government was to be held under obligation to relieve unemploy--1 ment, it should have a voice in dcal- ! ing with a policy which ultimately | produced unemployment, and would be 1 justified in seeking a revision of the trade union policy as to freedom of employment. In view of Lord Haig’s I recent appeal to tho trade unions with I regard to tho employment of ex-Ser- | vice men, it is interesting to note that Lord Weir considered that any exten- . sion of unemployment -relief should be | withheld from those unions which would not make arrangements whereby unskilled and semi-skilled workers could be utilised according to their ability in the skilled trades. The speaker further j considered that there were only four j methods for improving the Volume 1 and efficiency of this country’s production, viz., an increase in intensity of effort per operative hour; an increase in the number of operative hours per individual per day; an increase in the number of operative individuals; and a perfecting of methods, processes and organisations, thereby eliminating waste of operative hours. In dealing with the effect of restriction of employment by the action of tirade unions, the speaker referred to the great losses experienced by the engineering industry in this country owing to orders worth millions having been placed abroad. There is’ no doubt that the “dead hand” of the trade unions is preventing intensity of production, and until this is removed the present low level, of output, compared with the high rate of wages paid, will prove “a source not only of weakness, but of danger, to the State.”

The local rainfall for the year just passed aggregated almost 130 inches, as against 99J inches .vast year. Rain fell on 198 days last year as against 194 in 1919. Those figures seem abnormal, but denizens of Hokitika do not regard its rainfall as anything excessive. Much of the rain falls overnight. and may be attributed in the main to the physical features surrounding us—the ocean to the west, and the snow mountains to the east. These two factors acting in juxta position account for the volume of rain. Thu heaviest day’s rain was in April last when over eight inches fell in the 24 hours. It is perhaps in relation to the sunshine we enjoy in Hokitika that we get I he best nersiipetire nf nnr weather [ si

year (ns also the year before) there were only ol sunless days. For the year just closed, we had 1960 hours of bright sunshine, as against 1707 hours the year before. For the whole year the average daily sunshine was nearly 5.J hours—quite a good record indeed. The distinctive feature about our climate is its salubrity. It is healthful all the year round—never too hot, never too cold. If Jupiter Pluvius occasionally overstays his welcome, the effects of his unwelcome visit quickly disappear. The porous nature of our soil (readily absorbs the rainfall, and mud is almost an unknown substance hereabouts. When therefore wo hear ol our rainfall being in the vicinity of ten feet for the year, we must not omit to supplement the statement with the information as to our brilliant sunshine which we enjoy in such liberal quantity. Tho rainfall hero is prodigal at times, but nature requires it for her forest life, and our forest is so much of a pride to us. The rainfall interferes with regular cropping no doubt, but we cannot have all the advantages, and it is at least helpful for grass lands which now that cultivation is becoming more general, are proving more and more prolific, proving that the generous rainfall is not a drawback. 'Altogether our climate is something very much to enjoy, and the meteorological figures for the year only serve to emphasise tho fact, which is soon ’•enlist'd by visitors who come amongst us, 1 and make their sojourn here. j