LABOUR AND THE GOVERNMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3514, 19 July 1921, Page 25

LABOUR AND THE GOVERNMENT.

DUPLICATING THE DUNEDIN-PORT RAILWAY. A public meeting was held in the Town Hall, Port Chalmers, on the 14th. The meeting was addressed by Mr S. Boreham and Mr J. E. MacAlanus. secretary and president respectively of the local branch of the New Zealand Workers’ Union. Mr J. M. Stevenson (Mayor) presided, and introduced the speakers, stating they saw unemployment and the duplication of the lino as a solution. They also saw .he economic need for duplication. Mr MacMantis, he might say, was one of those who thought their country was worth lighting for. Z\lr Boreham was also surprised at the meagre audience, surprised they would not come .and listen to the agitator. The agitator right down the ages had pointed to progress, stirring people to strive for betterment. He was interested in Dunedin, but he recognised that Port Chalmers, so to speak, was the eyes of Dunedin. Was Duneding going to allow its outlook to be blocked? Before this agitation ceased progress was going to tc registered. With regard to the duplication of the DunedinPort Chalmers railway, where was the money for duplication coming from? The savings bank was a barometer of the people’s prosperity. In 1913 there was £13,000 in the savings bank; now there was £42,C00. At present 7 per cent, had to be paid for an overdraft. He was going to take action for a breach by the Government of an agreement entered into with Mr MacManus and himself. Notwithstanding any enactment by Govenror-in-Council, tie would spread what was for the betterment of all classes of the community. Employers as well as employees were suffering. lie tjglieved in government in caucus. There was false information being disseminated by the capitalistic press, which he must say had been fair as far as lie was personally concerned. He held that the statement by Sir Francis Bell in the newspapers the other day was mere word-phrasing. The consolidated revenue derived from taxation showed a surplus of five millions; another surplus, largely from death duties, amounted to four millions; this, with the loan raised in London, made £15,000,000 available for expenditure by the Government. Were the people here going to continue to put up with disabilities in lespect to their railway service, and do nothing more than depend on their member cf Parliament? He held it was up to the people to insist on the improvements they needed. Continuing, Mr Boreham said that, although he v as a Dunedin man, he held that the Government should not be any longer allowed to hinder progress. To duplicate the line would be a service to the country and would pay for itself in five years. Working men did not want to do work which was not essential. This proposed duplication was essential. Tr would provide work for those who needed it. Why should it not be gone on with? If this line were duplicated, the saving in wear and tear alone, apart from other advantages, would pay for itself over and over again in a very few years. 1 he money wall available. Why should the work not be done ? He moved: “That this meeting of Port <."hairnet's residents strongly urge the Government to proceed with the work of duplicating the Dunedin-Port Chalmers railway line as soon as possible in order to relieve the distress of unemployment, and at the same time to do a public work of dominion utility.” Cr J. Tait seconded tire motion, stating he was quite satisfied the time was long past when the duplication should have been done. About three or four years ago all the plans were prepared in anticipation of such a time as had now arrived. It was necessary that all suburban lines throughout New Zealand should be duplicated, and the most necessary of all of them was the Dunedin-Port Chalmers line. Mr MacManus said he came down to speak because of unemployment. The state of unemployment to-day reminded him of 1893. These periods recurred. It was the result of the capitalistic system. It was the perpetuation of a wrong system that brought unemployment and hardship. Swift death on the battlefield was not more dreadful than the sufferings of little children, who suffered as the result of a system ‘.hat. should be changed. Discontent with the system was world-wide. Cooperation must supersede the system responsible for waste, unemployment, and suffering. The feeling was growing everywhere. In the Peace Treaty labour was not. to be regarded as a commodity. That meant, that labour was not to be subject to the law of supply and demand. Yet the people wei'3 suffering still. Tie was prepared to say that depressions were connived at. Less reason for unemployment existed in New Zealand than anywhere else, he knew of. Immigrants were being poured into the country to compete with those already suffering from unemployment, He saw evidence of it. lie had learned of these tilings by his personal experience. In pre-war days the Government carried on public works during the slack seasons of the year. lie quoted figures from the Year Book In support of his statement. The Government thus en-

deavoured to avert unemployment. Public bodies likewise carried out work during the slack periods of the year. This year the Government put off men when men were being put off other works. Was this not accentuating unemployment? Yet immigrants were being brought into the country, lie referred to the great quantities of coal imported into New Zealand at great expense, _ and it was done merely to defeat ihe miners. One section of workers were being brought into competition with another in order to bring down wages. Despite the Government’s agreement with the New Zealand Workers’ Union not to reduce wages, men were being sent into the country at a wage of 10s or 12s a day. Worker® were being sent to the Catline district at 123 per day, and the wives of such men had to pay a heavy rent. It, was also a time for business men to join issue with the workers. How could workers buy goods with a reduced wage? They did. not want to see the business men go down. They want, this unemployment dealt with in a practical manner. The workers had been divided by the press and by other means, and while they were thus divided they were “rooked.” lie gave further figures to showhow the Government had not dealt with present-day problems as these should have been dealt with. Mr MacManus then dealt with the matter of the Government buying land for returned soldiers at ihe sellers’ valuation. I lie returned soldiers had also been “rooked,” although the speaker had the satisfaction of knowing he left no stone unturned to better the terms on which soldiers went on the land. Was there, lie asked, no means cf making those who had amassed wealth in war time- to disgorge some of their plunder? The most imperative need of the present moment, he contended. was residents of the dominion to adapt themselves to present-day conditions. Unemployment was nor so acute as to c- ill for panic legislation. Local bodies could help, and the Government, should put useful work in hand. The duplication of t lie Dunedin-Port Chalmers railway was a, useful work. Even to duplicate as far a® Raven sbeurne would pay for itself. The attendance was not large, as, it might, have been. It was, however, representative, and he had seen important resolutions carried m Dunedin bv smaller audiences. Where was now all the Government's protestations of eagerness .to deal w ith each conditions as had now arrived? By their fruits we shall know them. (Applause.) The principal resolution was carried unanimously, as was also a resolution calling on all public bodies to hold a conference with a view to coming to united action in dealing with unemployment.