CONCERNING RECONSTRUCTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25428, 8 January 1944, Page 2

CONCERNING RECONSTRUCTION

Science and Human Welfare, by W. E. Agar; The Problem of Maintaining Full Employment, by L. E. Giblin; The Advance to Social Security, by Colin Clark. Realities of Reconstruction pamphlets (Melbourne University Press-Oxford University Press.)

The proposition with which Professor Agar commences his contribution to the University of Melbourne Extension Board’s “ Realities of Reconstruction ” pamphlets admirably elucidates the purpose behind the publications. University professors and lecturers, he says, should not be primarily teachers of mathematics, chemistry or biology, but primarily mathematicians, chemists and biologists. It is as a scientist with an especial interest in eugenics that he contributes to the series his Science and Human- Welfare. This is a discussion of the mental defective problem and associated social problems .that is not merely informing but is accompanied by an interesting proposal for a reorganisation of the principle of child allowances. Professor Giblin provides in The Problem of Maintaining Full Employment an answer to a question that is frequently heard, “Here we have got employment in war, full employment, more than full; why cannot we have it in peace? ” His answer is not one to please those who think there is any easy way to change over to and maintain peace-time production and consumption at war-time standards. War s high employment level is, he points out, dearly bought, with great restraints on the freedom of the population, including freedom to spend, with very high taxation and tremendous effort in loan-raising, and a large proportion of the population in nongainful employment—in the fighting services. The absorption of these people back into civilian life itself presents a tremendous problem, which Professor Giblin breaks down to show both its intricacies and where the solutions lie: but he shows also that controls and high taxation must be continued for a time after the war, in the transitional period, and that ultimately no one country such as Australia, can maintain full post-war employment except through international agreement. Mr Clark’s contribution to the series is principally a critical examination of the Beveridge Report, his final finding being that Sir William has gone beyond the edge of British financial capacity.” He emphasises that social security is not an end in itself, and should be regarded merely as the beginning of an economic order designed to provide all people with property and resources to meet life s normal contingencies. His incidental observations, which are in a fine vein of invective, include a reference to industrial insurance: it, says the author with simple grandeur, definitely stinks.” _ J. M.