POLICY OF DRIFT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17944, 23 November 1932, Page 7

POLICY OF DRIFT

“AUSTRALIA’S ENEMY” SPEECH BY SIB THOMAS HENLEY (SYDNEY, Nov. <). “'The greatest enemy Australia is facing to-day is drift—'financial and industrial drift,” said Sir Thomas Henley, M.L.A., addressing a U.A.P. conference at Strathlieid. “I admit that the Lyons and Stevens Governments have worked wonders, for which we arc indebted to them, and will continue to uphold them. But we are still drifting. We are trying to make business 1 run in industrial, legal, class-made leg irons and financial strait-jackets. For years we havebeen trying to do the impossible, and that is why we have failed. “Under our present system, no employer can engage a number of men and women, compete in the open market, and make a. profit ; hence unemployment. ‘Bat why a profit?’ says the spoon-fed agitator. The answer is simple. Profit is the sunshine in the industrial garden, and industry will not work or grow where there is no sunshine. Millions are awaiting investment, and no one will risk the impossible. Suspend for some years, or abolish, what has failed and brought unemployment and distress in its train —-the Arbitration Court ami its costly encumbrances —and we can take on new title, new hope in a 'competitive world, and industrial free men. Until we settle that problem tens of thousands will remain out of employment, homes will remain impoverished, want and drift will continue.

“Are our religion and philosophy strong enough to face a change.' I ntil we do, drift and the cry of want will continue in what, is not a < ommonwealtli of Australia, but a privileged class, forcing us into deeper ruin.”