THE REFORM PARTY

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 115, 11 April 1930, Page 11

THE REFORM PARTY

WORKERS UNDER REFORM GOVERNMENT. CUSTOMS TARIFF AND THE WORKERS. A glanco through the tariff reveals that the great bulk of the imported necessaries of life, and the great bulk of imported articles which are likely to be purchased by the pdorer classes of the community, are admitted (if of British origin) duty-free. It should be remembered that, excluding motor cars, alcohol and tobacco, considerably more than half our imports (£20,000,000 out of a total of £38,000,000) are admitted free of duty; and —this is a most important point—the articles thus admitted duty-free are nearly all such as will eventually be purchased by either the farmers or the wageearners. In most cases where nre imposed on goods of British origin, they are luxuries; and the heaviest duties are imposed, in nearly every case, only on such expensive luxuries as are most unlikely to be purchased by any family in which the breadwinner earns less than £3OO or £350 a year. It is impossible to make an approximate estimate; but (still excluding motor cars, alcohol and tobacco) we can take a very outside figure, £1,600,000, ns the total amount of customs-duty on articles likely to be bought by the working classes. The number of >. wageworkers in New Zealand is about 430,000; and we find thus that the total contribution of the average wageearner to the national taxation (apart from .motor cars, alcohol, and tobacco) is about £3 10s a year—or less than Is 6d a week. Surely the government which placed the national revenue on this basis cannot be accused of legislating in favour of the well-to-do against the poorer sections of the community. The facts show that the late Reform Government must have (lone its utmost —and an amazing amount —to relieve the workers of the burden of taxation. Thus the figures must show every open-minded worker who are his real friends. Wages.—Males employed in secondary industries (average) 1911, £115; 1928, £232; increase, 101 per cent. Cost of living increased in the same period (all groups) (N.Z. Year Books 1912, 1930) 60 per cent. INDUSTRIAL PEACE.

New Zealand’s record in this respect compares more than favourably with that of other countries. During the ten years, 1919-1928, the workers in Great Britain lost 356,000,000 working days through strikes. Average, more than 35,000,000 days a year ; or about seven days per trade-unionist per annum. In Australia there were 13 days per trade-unionist per annum lost through strikes. But in New Zealand thero were (on average) only 83,000 days per annum lost through strikes; i.eT, less than ine day per tradeunionist per annum.—(Whitaker 1930 and N.Z. Year Book 1930). APPRENTICES ACT. In 1923 an effort was made to protect the interests of apprentices. Power was given to the Court of .Arbitration to enquire into the training, progress and welfare of apprentices and to demand, if necessary, that employers give additional facilities tor apprentices to qualify in their trades. The Court was also empowered to prevent the dismissal of apprentices and to arrange transfers, thus securing to the youths permanency qf employment. HOUSING. The Advances to Workers scheme for the erection of workers’ dwellings was very much liberalised by tl\S»ltefornk Government in 1923. The amount of loan obtainable was increased from 75 per cent, (maximum £450) to 95 per cent. (Maximum £1250) of the security offered, while the benefits of the scheme were extended from workers receiving £2OO to those receiving not more than £3OO per annum (plus £25 for wife and each child). Immediately after this readjustment the number of applications increased from 1700 (in 1923) to 3200 (in 1924) and the loans authorised in the 6amc period grew from £870,000 to £2,200,000. In six years from 1923 over £10,000,000 was advanced to workers for the purchase of their homes. PUBLIC WORKS. Under the agreement made between the Reform Government and the Public Works employees- the latter were assured of many privileges which, says Mr A. Cook (secretary of the Labourers’ Union), they no longer enjoy. Jn 1928 Public Works employees were secure in their work; they were granted annual leave; wooden huts, and married quarters were provided; school teachers were appointed to the camp settlements; and conditions generally were made as comfortable as practicable. Reform’s policy as enunciated by Mr Coates was the buildingup of a permanent, efficient and contented corps of Public Works employees to carry out the Government’s programme. Under present conditions this is impossible, and Public Works men are now practically of the same status as relief workers. EARNINGS OF RELIEF WORKERS. When relief works were first started the rates of pay for married men were fixed at 14s per day and single men at 10s. After the first year it was found that men were not seeking other employment; and as unemployment was acute and the Government likely to be involved in heavy expenditure, the minimum wage® of married men were reduced to 12s per day and single men to 9s. But good workers could and did earn more under the contract system. The average earnings of men on all Government relief works during the winter of 1928 were 12s 7d per day (married men) and 10s lid (single men), while many married men on contract were earning 15s or 16s. WORKERS’ COMPENSATION. Progressive steps were taken from time to time to increase not only the amounts payable under the Act but also the scope and operation of this importnat measure. In 1908 the total amount payable on death was £4OO, and on total incapacity £3OO. In 1922 the amount was increased to £750 in each case, and in 1926 to £IOOO. Various amendments were also passed bringing within the provisions of the Act employees of the Crown; extending the definition of “worker” ; and safeguarding the rights of minors. FAMILY ALLOWANCES. The Fnmily Allowance'Act was passed in 1926 to provide allowances towards the maintenance of children by parents with small incomes. The allowance is at the rate of 2s per week for each child in excess of two, the average weekly income of the applicant and his wife not to exceed £4 plus 2s for each child in excess of two. PENSIONS. All pensions at present in force, with

the exception of Widows and Old Ago Pensions, were introduced by the Reform Government. The following figures ret out the increase granted between 1912 and 1928 in the two pensions above mentioned: —Old age pension (average) from £25 to £42; widows pension (average) from £l9 to £77. In addition to the increase in the rate of old age pensions, the qualifying age for women was reduced from 65 to 60.