WHAT WILL HAPPEN ?

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11305, 2 September 1922, Page 5

WHAT WILL HAPPEN ?

IF PRRHIBITION GOMES ANXIETY BY WORKERS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS. STATE HELP SOUGHT. A deputation representing the whole of the maltsters and brewery workers of the Dominion waited on the Hon. W. Downie Stewart yesterday morning, and discussed the position that they would be placed in in the event of prohibition being carried at the next election. The deputation was introduced by Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P. for Avon. Mr Sullivan said the deputation wished to present to the Minister the position that was likely to arise as it affected them if prohibition was carried at the poll next December. There was no doubt of the seriousness of the problem for these men. Twelve months ago he would have been inclined to say that there was not much chance of the position of the men being affected, but now it seemed that there was quite a good chance of prohibition being carried. There were about 2550 workers concerned, exclusive of those engaged in the hop industry in Nelson. If the industry these men were engaged in was closed up, they would be thrown on the labour market, and that at the beginning of the winter, when the dearth of work was most acute. In American no provision had been made, and because of that a very serious economic problem had been created. He believed that the men whom the deputation represented before the Minister had a just claim on the Government. Mr R.. W. Walker, of the Christchurch Union, who was vested with authority to speak for the whole of the. industry in the South Island, said that there were 1050 engaged in the industry. They had 7000 dependents. Twenty-five per cent, of those engaged in the work were returned soldiers, and a curious thing was that the brewery companies had employed almost all married men. The workers engaged in the industry were in a very unfortunate position. Some provision which would absorb the men m a given time should be made. In Australia three months’ pay was asked. He had no scheme to offer, but considered it the Government’s duty to do something. Mr J. Cunningham, representing the North Island, said that there were about 1500 employees affected in the North Island, and many dependents. They did not ask for compensation, but for work, or sustonanoe. Mr W. O. Haase, -of Nelson, put the position as it would affect those engaged in the hop-growing industry. Mr J. McCombs, M.P. for Lyttelton, thought the i request of the deputation was .a. very modest one. He-said tbo principle sought now had already been endorsed by the Legislature, and to support his statement he quoted the legislation of 1918. The eu)n the State would have to provide was" a comparatively small one. He would go further/than the deputation, and say thw Government should find employments or sustenance up to the equivalent of six months' wages. Mr Stewart, replying to the deputation, said he quite realised that the 'Workers’ difficulty would, be a serious one .in . the event of prohibition being carried, and he thought they, were wise in raising the question early. He thought the position had been considerably simplified by the deputation not asking fo< compensation, but for work. He looked at it in this way : the Prime Minister had stated in the House that, in the event of prohibition being carried, Parliament would be immediately summoned, and no doubt the question raised by the deputation would have to be considered. The Government, in framing its plana, koutfi have to allow-for the-fact that the volume of unemployment would have to be considered to the extent which had been mentioned by the deputation. He was hound ! to say that he thought it would have been reasonable for the trade to make tome provision for such a contingency, because it had had this sword hanging over its head for years. Mr Sullivan: The fact remains that the trade has not done so. Mr Walker: Does any master make provision, for his employees? - The Minister: It really crimes down to this, that as' you are not making any claim for compensation—and I think you are quite right not to —it really becomes a question for whoever is responsible for adjusting the financial position to take cognisance of the fact that there is a possibility, or a probability, of an addition to those requiring assistance'jtemporarily, to the extent that you have mentioned." I will make representations to my colleagues, and if nri-lioense is carried, and Parliament is called together early in the year, the point would no doubt be considered then. . . . I think the matter should be kept in view hy those dealing with the financial arrangements for the year.. “Any chance of the Alliance meeting thfe difficulty as a thank offering?'’ the Minister asked Mr McComßc. Mr McCombs: It. will be so small a sum that I will suggest it to them.