The Timaru Herald THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1927. MR. LANG'S RAINBOW.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 17 March 1927, Page 8

The Timaru Herald THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1927. MR. LANG'S RAINBOW.

In New South Wales, a strung determination is being displayed by the Legislative Council, which has so far refused to expire at the bidding' of the Labour Premier, to prevent the enactment of the Child Endowment Hill. Obviously, such a mensure means heavier burdens being placed on industry and commerce. Inter-State Shipping companies, it is estimated, so recent Sydney files tell us, will have to meet an increased expenditure of at least £bU,(J(JI), should the Child Kiulowmem nil be accepted in its present form. Coastal companies expect an added cost of £30,000.

Companies are anxiously loilowi mg the progress of the Bill, and tlieim is no doubt that if the added expenditure becomes, compulsory, that rates will have to by revised. AItI 10 u gli faced with keen railway competition, shipping companies trading wifhiu the State are emphatic that they will either have to charge increased rates, or go out ol business. Another effect of the dill would be a tax (on the working expenses), of £003,000 on the State railways, and £183,000 on,the tramways 1 , and this, with other contributions, these services would Lave to make on the basis of their capital accounts, would make a grand total of £1,051,000 a year. The “Sydney Sun

indicates tnot employees ol i.u<hoot trade have been very plainly warned of the result on tlm industry if this Bill becomes, law. Employers have stated that, a 0 per cent, tax on their wages bill, plus tile burdens _ they already have to carry in the compensation, insurance rates and the 44-hour week, against Victorian competition. ■ which has not these drawbacks, will cause them either to close down altogether or to transfer their industries to Victoria. It is plainly shown in the press of New South Wales that there s iar from complete unanimity among the people most affected by Mr Lang's Bill. “In the first place/''' the “Sun” points out, “it is not at all popular with the single, men, who natuially ask why, when work is equal, married men should have preference on the wages sheer. These forsee that if the Bill is

passed into it will mean good-bye- to any clumce o f a a increase in (lie basic wage, and may mean a decrease later on. Many of the married men are wise enough to see that the beautiful rainbow which shines in the political sky is going to lie. of little- use to them. .1 Bill which takes G per cent, in taxation of the wages-sheet of employers is naturally going to induce those employers to see exactly how much they can cutdown the wages-bill on which they'- are taxed. That means a progressive increase in unemployment as the less necessary and inefficient workers are cut out.” Doubtless the propagandists of Mr Lang will say that this is a mere capitalist conspiracy, and that the merciless Monster is crying wolf and preparing- to trample the worker with its blood-stained boots, but such rhetoric is noti likely to compensate those employees who see their livelihood endangered by a. mawkish and insincere vote-catching divorce, which will grievously hamper industrial progress. But it is strongly urged in other quarters that the final result of the Bill, if Mr

ljaixg’ succeeds in breaking' down the opposition of the Legislative Council, will ho a strong" increase in opposition votes. Even a Labour Government, exhibiting rainbow after rainbow, must ultimately find the truth' at last of Lincoln’s notable saving" that “you can fool all the people some of the time, and some people all the people all the time.” It is' a shameful policy, of course, for a Government to fool the people, hut the shame is on the people if they permit themselves to lit twice fooled. Doubtless the Labour Government in New South Wales will leave no stone unturned to ensure the enactment of Mr Lang-’s Bill, hut ills becoming more apparent there is opposition to La hour’si palpable policy of trading on the credulity of the great mass of. the electors, but no one ha.s yet reached the erode of gold which is supposed to rest at the foot of each rainbow, nor can the workers of New South Wales, even with the assistance of the Labour Cabinet, succeed for very long iu getting something for nothing".