PEOPLE’S COLUMN

Northern Advocate, 3 October 1930, Page 3

PEOPLE’S COLUMN

[Our columns are open to the public for the discussion of matters of public concern. We invite correspondence, but do not identify ourselves with the views expressed by our correspondents. Letters must bo written in ink and on one side of the paper only. The real name and address of the writer must be attached to a letter, not necessarily for publication, but as » mark of good faith.—Ed. J

ALIENS r.\ NEW ZEALAND,

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —I would ho pk* a sod if vo' would allow one space in reply to th | many questions raised by the remark of B. King on September 25, comment ing on my previous letter on “Alien in New Zealand.” That letier wn written without any racial prejudici whatever, and was intended 4 as : , thought, provoker. My critic has evad ed the point I wished others to thini about, and diverted the discussion into another very much discussed channel singing the popular song of the da> “abuse of our unemployed” (or unemployable). This song is much more likely to earn applause than the ques tion I raised, or the reply I now beg permission to give. My efforts were directed to help create a desire to preserve our hard won religious and civil liberties, and to make, Now Zealand ft real homo for our race, not a place to exploit for the benefit of business. The writer asks me to place myself in the position of a businesslike employer. Very well, and at, the same time let, us consider her statement of the many unemployable- of our race. Who created them and who has perpetuated them? I would put most of the blame on the unbusinesslike employer who is supposed to represent the brains* of the community, firstly by way of our education system, which he in a large part controls, -Children arc educated for white collar positions, regardless of their capabilities or the ability of industry to absorb them, with the result that this country is full of unemployable, even though we have flooded the white collar jobs of both 'Government and business to overflowing. Consequently, we are carrying’ such a burden of overhead that we are strangling industry. But I know very well B. 'King is not referring to this kind of unemployables. It is the poor soul who is least able to hit back. Our old system was to starve them out, but today we give them charity to enable them to create more of their kind, brought up under the same conditions. But why pick on them? It may be popular, but gets us nowhere. Besides, there are probably less of them among our own race than with others. But we are forgetting the employers’ point of view. Let us look at two instances of American efficiency methods which my critic refers to — two outstanding example of American businesslike efficiency. Take Andrew Carnegie’s methods first. I will remember when, he employed Englishmen in his steelworks because they were the most 'efficient workmen. But they resented his tyranny by organising and striking (they showed the failings of our race), so he replaced them by Irishmen," who also developed the same disease. They, in turn, were replaced by Scandinavians and Poles, who also became nnbiddable. Then came a bright idea. Many races and tongues were brought in from middle, eastern and southern Europe, but the Anglo-Saxon agitators got among them, and even they revolted. But they were driven back with the live steam hose, and they became more cowed and biddable. Now,, take the second instance—more modern; in fact, right up-to-date—none other than that most efficient businesslike employer, Henry Ford. After proving what could be done with high wages and shorter hours in America, he went to Europe, I will quote from Sir Pereival Perry, President of the Motor Trade Association of Great Britain. He says: “In England and Denmark we are paying the highest wages in Europe, and we have the lowest minute costs. In Belgium, where we pay the lowest wages, we have the highest minute costs, and whenever wages are increased we found that minute costs immediately dropped, also that the experienced English and European workmen were in some instances superior to American.” The pay of Henry Ford everywhere is much higher, and the working hours much lower, than any trade union ever demanded, and yet he can sell cheaper than any other manufacturer, and become richer. Whenever you look deeply into the question, you (ind that employers’ efficiency comes first. The employees 1 efficiency soon follows. And then Mr Ford himself says there remains practically no uneniployahles. Business in New Zealand is eternally crying for protection, assistance and support — both Government and private—and is ever blaming ils trouble on the workers. It is more in need of a good pair of spurs to encourage some real thinking. My critic mentions the effect of tariffs, and recommends the replacement of Parliaments by a benevolent ' dictatorship. Very interesting! I am afraid T am already trespassing too ■much on the goodwill of the editor, but 1 would like to recommend to the correspondent to gain some real knowledge of the workmen of onr own race .before attempting to disparage them. From the employers’ point of view there is plenty of evidence to show I hat the workmen of our own race are even superior as workmen to the aliens in question except to those employers | who demand subserviency. I am, etc., W. IT. OHF.THAM.