GOSPEL OF WORK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23883, 10 August 1939, Page 8

GOSPEL OF WORK

GREATER EFFORT NEEDED MAINTENANCE OF LIVING STANDARD STRONG PLEA BY MR COATES (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON. Aug. 9. The urgent need for a greater effort on the part of every ablebodied man and woman in New Zealand if the present living standards were to be maintained was emphasised by Mr J. G. Coates (Opposition, Kaipara) during the Financial debate in the House of Representatives to-night. In this part of his address Mr Coates received the support of Government members as well as that of the Opposition. "Our standard of living is threatened," Mr Coates said. After detailing the responsibilities facing the Dominion, particularly the future commitments, he said that from the Estimates there would be about £10.000,000 less a year on which to maintain those standards and it was no use talking about credit as an alternative. The only possible way by which they could be maintained was by hard work. The Forty-hour Week Government members might say that he would scrap the 40-hour week, Mr Coates continued, and his reply was that if the necessary volume of production could not be obtained under the 40-hour week he would scrap it without the slightest hesitation. Labour voices: How many hours would you suggest? Mr Coates: As many as are required to maintain our standard. The example of France under Socialism was quoted by Mr Coates. He said that a former French Government had followed a policy identical with that of Labour in New Zealand and it had not been until Socialism was thrown overboard that the country began really to prosper. Under M. Daladier unemployment had decreased, production had risen, and the country had returned to prosperity. A Three-year "Bender" " The rake's progress is not in it," Mr Coates said. "This country has been on a bender for three years and work is our only salvation." Mr Coates concluded with an appeal for sound finance. He said that New" Zealand had inflated her currency outside until it was not worth twopence, and internally she was steadily inflating to a point where increased costs were a danger. "I say definitely that sound finance is the first essential to democracy," he added.