UNEMPLOYMENT AND ITS CURE.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 October 1930, Page 6

UNEMPLOYMENT AND ITS CURE.

Whatever may be thought of it as-.poli-tical strategy, there will be much sympathy with the claim made by the Acting-Prime Minister, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, that it is the duty of the Government to shoulder the responsibility of trying out its own proposals for therelief of unemployment and a reduction in the cost of production. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Coates, had suggested that a further conference of politicians, Ibeal authorities, employers and employees should be. held with a view to arriving at a solution of the unemployment problem. A further proposal was that Parliament should meet directly after the Prime Minister’s

y return from the Imperial Conference, so that all parties might assist the Ministry in devising ways ami means of relievin', unemployment ami reducing production costs. Of conferences aml discussions there have been quite sufficient for exploratory purposes. The National Industrial Conference tailed because Labour proved immovable from the support of the present compulsory arbitration system, with its high wage awards and rio-id control of industry. There are plain indications '■hat Jjabour stands today exactly where it stood three years avo. The Reform Government then held an overwhelming majority in Parliament, but found it impossible to create an industrial policy out of the conclusions of the conference, and it is still more unlikely that a minority Government would be able to do so. To call another conference would seem but expensive procrastination, of which there has been quite enough already. For good or ill the Government has adopted certain legislative measures for dealing with unemployment. Ihe additional taxation they involve has been accepted by the peoples representatives. It is now for the Ministry to show how the scheme can be made practicable and progressive. The two Opposition parties have had ample opportunity of making suggestions tor dealing with the problem. Unfortunately their criticism has lacked constructive ability, nor is there any hope that if a special session were held alter Mr Forbes’ return the results would be any more profitable. The Government has the authority and the finance at its disposal. It has now to show. that, it is capable of using both with discietion and in a manner which will bring to an eml'tlie conditions in regard to employment that are so deplorable.