NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23690, 23 December 1938, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT

“EFFICIENT AND RESOLUTE” U OPINION OF MR BEVIN * (From Oub Own Correspondent) (By Air Mail) LONDON. Nov. 24. “ I had long talks with several members of the Government over their problems, and I came away convinced that they were an efficient Government. resolute and clear in their purposes,” Mr Ernest Bevin, general secretary of the Transport and General Workers’ Union, says in the Record when commenting on his recent visit to New Zealand. Mentioning " some of the work they arc doing.” Mr Bevin said: “ Their marketing schemes are an orderly approach towards the solution of a very difficult problem. Their guaranteed prices to the farmer and the fixing of wages for agricultural workers in relation thereto is a bold experiment. “VERY DIFFICULT PERSON”

“The farmer is a very difficult person to deal with. If prices rise he wants to be free to make extra money. If prices go down he wants someone to guarantee him, but in New Zealand they have taken a long-range view in recognising that the prime industry of the country is agriculture, and the thing to aim for is stability. “They are raising the standards of quality of their meat, butter, and other commodities. They are paying great attention to the packing of their products and their transport. They are endeavouring to keep prices at a point which will keep up the volume of consumption, their object being a greater turnover and smaller profits, which is the reverse of the practice which has been going on in this country for some time.

“ Bound up with the campaign to produce and distribute primary commodities in the best possible condition Is the whole subject of nutrition, and In that sense New Zealand is making a great contribution. In return they buy in the British market, but they want our manufacturers to produce the goods they want on the same principle that they are selling their butter. “Their road and rail transport development is very interesting. They own the railways, and the State is now taking over a large section of road transport and developing it. When completely organised, this will result In great economies. In road transport, as in industry, a 40-hour working week has been introduced.

“ The Arbitration Court abolished by the previous Tory Government has been reinstated. Real wages have been increased. " INTERESTING SCHEME ”

“A very interesting housing scheme has been developed, and the social security scheme is one of the boldest that any country of that size has ever undertaken. What is most gratifying is that they have carried their scheme through Parliament, and now it has been endorsed by the electorate. “It is very curious that when _ a Government makes a bold move it stirs up all the prophels of gloom, who immediately tell you that these efforts are bound to end in disaster. I found this amongst certain classes I met in Australia and on my way home, but when I asked ‘why?’ no one could give an answer. It is apparent that in many instances the wish was father to the thought. The Government in New Zealand is entitled to all the support we can possibly give it in this country.” Mr Bevin has also referred since his return to the very great interest being taken in New Zealand’s legislation by Canadians and Americans.

While travelling by train in Canada, he said, the news came through that the British Privy Council had authorised. or ratified, a Marketing Bill for milk for British Columbia.

“ There was," said Mr Bevin, “an almost unanimous chorus of * It won’t do much. We shall not be able to deal with our products here satisfactorily until we get on the same basis as New Zealand.’ ”

In Washington he found a very great interest taken in New Zealand’s recent legislation.