HUMANITARIAN LEGISLATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22489, 5 August 1936, Page 17

HUMANITARIAN LEGISLATION

Sir, —I am not prejudiced against the Labour Government and believe the Cabinet is composed of men with robust intelligence, but one views the trend of legislation anxiously. I desire to especially stress the humanitarian legislation. Here 1 suggest the Government will encounter grievous disappointments and 1 think when their trust has been betrayed they will turn the screw more ruthlessly than the previous Government. J hope so. The Invalid Pension Bill will soon come up for discussion. Two pounds weekly has been suggested. The number of invalids ready to claim this amount, if granted, will prove astounding. Did not the Minister of Labour admit he was inundated with applications for the Christmas bonus? Destitute men and women sprang up like mushrooms. Again it is now admitted sustenance men are increasing. With more encouragement they would double and treble themselves. Scotland Yard was solicited to give data for the main causes of criminality. Idleness, as the first factor, won easily. Drink and physical unfitness followed. To pat on the back the idle, who do not conscientiously wish to give service, is a suicidal policy. Thousands are willing to eat, drink, sleep and be merry at the ex]>ense of their fellow-taxpayers. The Labour ideal of encouraging the honest worker with an honest soul is praiseworthy and it is to be complimented on its intention to distribute wealth more equitably to give happiness to a greater number, but many of mankind are too selfish and too dishonest for an abundance of humanitarian Acts, fhe moral fibre should be developed to a greater extent in our schools and colleges and prominent educationists are realising this. 1 have been a labourer all my life, associated with the best and worst of my class, and the truth has been forced upon me. Farm Wobkeb.