Appeal to Returned Men

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26851, 16 August 1948, Page 4

Appeal to Returned Men

TOO MANY LOAFERS

“We cannot get houses built fast enough, or clothing, or food in the variety and quantity we want. ‘ Kiwis ’ need these things the worst way, particularly housing; why cannot they get satisfaction three years after war’s end? Because throughout our trade unions to-day there is a creeping paralysis. Full employment and social security have removed the carrot, no less than the stick. Nobody has to work hard to-day. So few do. There is no real discipline for the loafer, just as there is no real incentive for the willing worker.”

These statements appear as the introduction to an editorial article, “A Call to Work: Repeat—Work!” in the Kiwi, the official magazine of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. Association.

“Already the cry has been raised. ‘ Back to the 44-hour week.’ If the workers of this country forfeit their cherished leisure they will have themselves to thank,” the article continues. “At present we are not producing enough, working hard enough in the 40-hour week to sustain our standard of life Our national wealth is drying up because there are too many loafers on the job. That is why we cannot get homes built fast enough and farms opened up and returned men rehabilitated to schedule.” The journal added that it was deeply concerned to see parliamentary democracy work. “As intelligent workers, we want progressive legislation kept on the Statute Book. We hate tp see a people’s Government betrayed by loafers who regard an honest day’s work as a stupid concession to the employer. We think it a bitter thing to find our people so well treated that they are losing their capacity for honest work.” it continued. “To all trade unionists who are Kiwis, we address this appeal Let us at least give our day’s best, whatever the other man does. Someone is waiting desperately for the house you are working on, or the truck you are repairing, or the goods you are distributing. Probably he is a Kiwi. Give him—and his family—a fair go! “And to you trade union leaders recently elected to replace ; suspect elements, we say this: Any industrial order that offers the same rewards to the man who loafs as to the man who works, is doomed. If you want to hold the line at the 40-hour week, you have to get your men working again. At the moment you are trapped into defending the loafer equally with the honest worker, a dead-weight that is dragging down, our whole economy. “For God’s sake let us get back to hard work!”