The Sun 42 Wyndham Street, Auckland, N.Z. MONDAY, JUNE 27, 1927. UNEMPLOYMENT IN POLITICS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 81, 27 June 1927, Page 8

The Sun 42 Wyndham Street, Auckland, N.Z. MONDAY, JUNE 27, 1927. UNEMPLOYMENT IN POLITICS

IT is reported as a stirring item of political news from Wellington that the House of Representatives will plunge to-morrow into a strenuous debate on unemployment. “ Plunge” appears to be the right word; the House has been plunging every session for years, but has made about as much progress as a restive mule. There is not much promise of practical results. In recognition of the seriousness of unemployment in the main centres, the Government intends, through its Minister of Finance, to introduce a Bill providing for a renewal of the Act empowering local bodies to borrow money for relief works without taking a poll of the ratepayers. The most vital issue underlying the problem—the necessity for providing work for able-bodied men largely rendered idle from the pressure of the Governments inflated immigration policy during the past two years—is likely to be smothered completely by vehement argument about the rates of wages to be paid on unemployment works. Even on this question the Ministry declines to carry the load of responsibility for fixing these wages definitely at twelve shillings a day for married men and nine shillings for single labourers. It has decided to subsidise municipal or county expenditure on the basis of these rates, but denies that it has fixed a hard-and-fast scale. The Government, in its best quibbling manner, argues that local bodies, who provide relief work for the unemployed, may pay higher wages if they want to, but it is not really the Government’s affair! And so the palaver goes on in the name of progressive statesmanship. As far as can be foreseen Labour, as the Opposition in Parliament, will concentrate its debating strength on attacking the scale of relief work wages, with perhaps an occasional foray into the bleak field of unemployment insurance. It is to be hoped that Parliament will not waste time woolgathering with those Socialists who favour the establishment of generous unemployment benefits either from a State insurance fund or from one provided by industrialists and the Government. The British system has proved to be only a little better than the Poor Law. Indeed, unemployment insurance, though excellent in theory, has, in practice, helped to soften the former national hatred of the workhouse, and taught thousands of men and women in Great Britain to rely on charity instead of on individual resourcefulness and grit. In a young country with immeasurable scope for development works, it would be more profitable for the State, and more uplifting for its people, to begin essential public works without delay than to sap the national character by introducing a system of unemployment doles. If wages must be lowered why not borrow a trick or two from the greatest Roman of them all? Quite recently Mussolini declared that it was necessary to reduce the wages of Italy’s industrialists. And wages forthwith were reduced. But the Dictator was reasonable in his tyranny. He also compelled an equal reduction in rents and the cost of living. Something of the kind is needed in this paradise for exploiters. WORKERS’EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION IT is more than a pity that the Workers’ Educational Association should be hampered in its splendid work by lack of funds. When men whose early education has perhaps been merely elementary are found willing to improve their knowledge by attending night classes after having worked at their occupations throughout the day, their efforts should receive recognition from the State. This adult education, as was pointed out by a deputation to the Minister on Saturday, is of immense benefit to the workers and of great advantage to the country as a whole. Yet though New Zealand has more students per head of population than any other country, the Government and the university last year assisted the movement only up to £4O a class. The extent of the W.E.A.’s work may be gauged from the fact that the number of classes in session last year was 122, with 5,489 students. The total Government grants amounted to £4,900 only. The students include manual labourers, shop and office women, farmers, business men and teachers, who are being instructed in 23 subjects, the main courses being English history, economics, history, psychology, music, the drama and public speaking. The worth to the country of such knowledge being imparted to adults who were denied extensive education in their youth cannot easily be estimated, and it will be very regrettable if shortage of funds is to prevent the association carrying on certain classes and meeting the increasing demands for tuition which are coming from all parts of the country. It is very much more desirable that the association should extend its activities, rather than curtail them. In the small towns and country districts there is an evergrowing demand for W.E.A. tuition and the association is making the only possible provision for adult education in these places. Are the people of the country to be denied this valuable teaching because of. an unsympathetic attitude on the part of the education administration? The Minister of Education, it will be noted, appeared to be rather querulous when approached for further financial assistance on Saturday and hinted that the association was forming two many classes. He referred again to “the huge demands upon the finances of the country’’ (a phrase with which everybody is now over-familiar) and said that a line must be drawn somewhere. However, Mr. Wright indicated that he would see if he could induce Cabinet to give an increased grant, and now that the worth of the association’s work has been brought prominently under the notice of the public, it may be hoped that the Government will strain a point to assist it.