LABOUR EXPECTS GOVT. TO FIND WORK FOR ALL

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17880, 23 June 1926, Page 9

LABOUR EXPECTS GOVT. TO FIND WORK FOR ALL

HON ANDERSON ASSAILS OPPOSITION’S POLICY. MINISTER WOULD HAVE TO GET UNDER-RATE PERMIT TO WORK, SAYS MEMBER. (Special to the “Star.”) WELLINGTON. June 23. “ I suppose it is natural to expect the Labour Party to look to the Government for work for everyone who desires it,” remarked the Minister of Labour, the Hon G. J. Anderson, in the House yesterday, referring to the complaints about the state of unemployment. “ That is their policy,” he added. Mr Parry: Well, there is no crime about that.” :v. Mr Anderson: I am not saying: it is /my crime. It is a plank in the Socialistic policy which desires that everyone in the country shall look to the Government as father and mother and benefactor. Mr P. Fraser: A bad stepfather and stepmother! The Minister retorted that if a Socialistic Government were in power the}* would prOve an exceedingly bad stepfather and stepmother. Mr Anderson said that when a responsible .party in the House, such as the Opposition, demanded the Government to provide every individual in the community with work, they were overstepping the mark. If they expected that sort of thing, they were underone of the traits of British character, freedom and independence. The Opposition would have everyone come cap in hand to whomever happened to be in power and demand to be given work. Mr Anderson went on to suggest what might happen if he got out of work and applied to the honourable gentlemen on the opposite benches for a job. Mr J. A. Lee: Y’ou would have to get an underrate workers permit. (Laughter.) Mr Anderson said he frankly hoped that such a state of affairs would never come in New Zealand. People were too independent here to put up with such a state of things. They were willing to go and look for work and find it, and they could do it. Air Jordan: Where? “Am I going to lead them to it?” asked the Minister, who went on to say that there were over 10,000 workers employed on public works to-day, and that if there were added to that number all other employees of the State the total would be. close on 50.000. In addition there were people who were dependent the State. “ The honourable gentleman wants the whole population to be under the wing of the Government,” he said. “So far as I am concerned, I am opposed to such a thing.” Naturally those who were necessary for the carrying on of public works and the general public duties of the State should be employees of the State, otherwise they must look out for work themselves. Mr Veitch agreed with Mr Anderson that it would be tOo much to expect the Government to find a job for anybody any time it was demanded. Such a policy would disorganise the country’s finances.