NATIONAL SPIRIT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24827, 25 February 1944, Page 4

NATIONAL SPIRIT

DETERIORATION SIGNS AN OUTSPOKEN ADDRESS "I am sure that every loyal New Zealander has a feeling that there is a serious deterioration in the attitude of a large section of our people toward their country," said Mr. .1;'. G. Baskett in his presidential address at the annual meeting of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce yesterday. "This deterioration has its roots in various causes and in some cases 1 fear it is sheer ,selfishness." Whatever the cause, said Mr. Baskett, there was a widespread and inexcusable lack of regard for the welfare of others, combined with a growing disregard of the law. Another cause of discontent was the wide disparity in wages. Men were disheartened when they saw others in occupations requiring'no more skill than theirs earning 50"per cent more than they were able to earn, particularly when little real work was done for this big money. A thorough investigation and a levelling of wages were required, having in view payment by results. The minimum wage of >5 os a week was overdue. Unrest in Goal Mines Concerning the coal industry, almost daily there were reports of unauthorised stop-work meetings; there were frequently reports of strikes and a good deal of avoidable absence from work. This, surely, could not be in anyway connected with wages, for in the three principal Waikato mines the average earning ol miners in the eight weeks prior to Christmas was Over £2 os a shift. Although there had been an increase in the quantity of coal cut, the output a shift had fallen slightly during the last 1-' months, continued Mr. Baskett. i Tlie majority of the miners desired to help the country but an irresponsible, militant section had caused _ the stoppages, which had resulted in 100.nod tons of coal being lost. Nobody could j claim that the taking over of the major Waikato mines by the Government had j eliminated the problems. | Capital's Share of Blame ; The speaker referred to absenteeism land "go-slow" tactics in other industries. 'this deterioration in outlook, he I said, had been progressive for a nuin- | her of years, but the war had accentuj ated the selfishness,- the lawlessness and the lack of patriotism. Capital had to share the "blame for I this position. It had been too slow in recognising and granting the just rights 1 of labour, and although some firms had ! provided amenities far in_ excess of Minion demands, the majority had not freely jnei the position. The Government, could not escape some portion ol the blame for, the present state of unrest. It had allowed the law to he openly flouted and at times had brought down legislation ol a partisan character and questionable morality. One outstanding example was the industrial rest period emergency [regulations, introduced last year, j whereby certain workers were granted { a holiday not provided for in awards, land for which employers had had no I opportunity to recoup themselves. The i present position was a challenge to our ! mental ability and to the desire of our ! hearts. He appealed to all sections to j got together for the common good. j FACIAL ECZEMA DANGER | WARNING TO FARMERS I PRECAUTIONS IN WAIKATO | (0.C.) HAMILTON, Thursday ' The danger of an outbreak of facial eczema among sheep and dairy stock ■of the Waikato has been closely watched by the Facial Eczema Management Committee this week. A tour of the district has been made by members of the committee, including the ; chairman. Dr. J. K. Kilmer, director of ; animal research. Dr. C. P. McMeekan, ! superintendent of the Ruakttra Animal Research Station, and Mr. Bruce Levy, of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. No traces of the disease were found, i but the conditions were so similar to those which were prevalent; when the last serious outbreak occurred in the autumn of IMS that the committee ; decided to issue a statement to I farmers strongly urging them to tako | immediate action to reduce the consumption of rapidly-growing pasture of ! the rye-grass-wh ite-ciover type to an i absolute minimum during the next ■ week. It was slated that dairy farm- ' ers should transfer their cows to the lea-! dangerous paddocks available. : even although ibis might result in some 'temporary loss of production. Hay, ! si Ia go and grown crops such as roots. ; maize or lucerne should be fed. here j safe paddocks are not available, snp- ; plemeiit ar\ feed should piovide the greatest possible proportion of the Sheep sheiihi ago he transferred to safe paddock - Where these were not | available they should be crowded into a small area, and kept there to reduce | the consumption of toxic pasture It j was emphasised that these measures [ must he taken at once, before sympI tojii> of facial eczema were seen, and I should continue for a week, when a | further statement' would be issued. state" and business WARTIME CONTROLS DANGER of permanence j (P.A.) WKijLI.VfiTON, Thursday ■ "There is one subject on which I feel I impelled to touch, although it borders nn the political." said Mr. W. i 5. Cril- ; fm, ot .Nelson, in his presidential | address at the annual meeting of the I New Zealand Society of Accountants, j "Although (.'overnment controls may | ho unavoidable in wartime, and perhaps in sonic cases for a time after the | war has ceased, they should be discoiij tinned at the earliest possible date so | that business may he restored to its j former freedom. | "Governments of any colour are | notoriously reluctant to relinquish 'powers once they have been assumed, | ami we must, it we believe in an indijvidualistic way of life, he vigilant: that j these wartime controls do not insidi- ! ously develop into permanent controls, 1 accompanied by further State owner- ; ship."