Labour M.P. Emphasises Need For Harder Work

Northern Advocate, 29 August 1947, Page 3

Labour M.P. Emphasises Need For Harder Work

(P.A.) .. WELLINGTON, This Day. THE Government member for Timani (Mr C. Carr) in the House of Representatives last night emphasised the need for the workers of New Zealand to produce more. He was speaking in the Budget debate.

The workers had to throw' themselves wholeheartedly into the task of increasing production, said Mr Carr, and great care had been taken by the Minister of Finance to see that the workers would not be exploited by their employers. One of the criticisms he had to make of nis Government was that it had done more than any other Government to increase the prosperity of the workers, but the workers, however, could not afford to think only of themselves while Britain languished and Europe was in its present state, Mr Carr said. It had been suggested that the Government was bankrupt of policy, but he would assure the Opposition that the Government had only just begun. Most of the present difficulties, which were the consequence of the war. would be overcome within the next two and a half years. Mr F. W. Doidg'e (O—Tauranga): Keep on whistling. NOT MENTIONED Mr E. B. Corbett '(o—Egmont) said in view of the fact that the Government’s housing‘target was 12,000 houses a year he had expected to see something revolutionary in the Budget concerning the progress made, but there was only mention of difficulties and not of means of overcoming them. There was no mention of the Minister of Works’ ten-year plan, which had been described as “hollow as a barrel.” The Budget made no mention of the steps the Government proposed to take for a quicker turnround of ships or to stimulate production in helping Britain. The tyingup of ships in New Zealand, the freezing of Britain’s own money, could only be termed sabotage. Mr Corbett said the shortages of essential goods in New Zealand today were affecting every family man and woman in a way which was causing i them the greatest distress. Children's ] clothing and essential working garments could not be obtained. When the Opposition mentioned 1 shortages it was ridiculed by the Government, but the shortages would not ; be so great today if. through the Gov- | crnment’s policy, workers had not ‘ 1

been attracted away from the industries concerned. There was need for fewer administrators and more producers. 33,000 VACANCIES There were more than 33,000 vacancies in industry, which the Budget claimed, and unless every available man-hour could be used there would have tp- be some drastic changes made in our economy. He urged the Minister of Labour to divert immigrants to the land, for which it was essential to have an adequate labour pool if production were to be increased. Mr H. E. Combs (G —Onslow) said there was a repeated cry in the Dominion. especially from Opposition speakers, for the extension of working hours from 40 to 44 or 48 a week without payment of overtime rates for the additional hours. There was, however, no cry for the direction of physically fit idle men into employment. Why should not loafers be sent to work before the workers were asked to do longer hours? If all who were physically fit were obliged to take up useful work the question of hours could then be reviewed, and if longer hours were necessary he was sure those now working would cheerfully accept the change if equal sacrifices were made.! LAND DISTRIBUTION I A man who was just idling away j his time living on investments or on the proceeds of an inheritance was not. under the present difficult conditions, serving his country. He was not a good New Zealander. Mr Doidge: What is the Government doing about it? Mr Combs said the Government should examine land distribution hroughout the Dominion for subdivision. Complaints of lack of farm labour :ame mostly from those having more [ and than they could profitably farm. ] The remedy was for them to subdi-1 fide it, offering the surplus to re- j urned servicemen. This would lead to closer settlement md more efficient farming. Opposition voice: Make peasants of j hem.