The Christchurch Star PUBLISHED BY New Zealand Newspapers Ltd. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1934. A MINISTERIAL MARE’S NEST.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20456, 8 November 1934, Page 6

The Christchurch Star PUBLISHED BY New Zealand Newspapers Ltd. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1934. A MINISTERIAL MARE’S NEST.

TT IS TIME that the Unemployment Board came to earth regarding tlie amount of work there is in the country. Every private employer in New Zealand has not only reached saturation point, and in many cases is employing tradesmen and rouseabouts beyond his reasonable requirements, but has also a waiting list ■of perhaps a hundred men fully qualified to take the first vacancy that offers. But what does the Unemployment Board say to all this? It has discovered “ that the placing of unemployed persons in private employment depends very largely on securing the confidence of employers in the recommendations made to them by the bureaus,” that is, unemployment relief bureaus, and it is intended, therefore, to have brighter and better bureaus. Thai these plans are merely the product of some unpractical, push-button theorist, making work for himself, is suggested by the whole tenor of the Ministerial statement. There is not an employer in the cities, where it is proposed to put this precious plan into operation, who will not be irritated by the statement “ that there are many employers who will he willing to give qualified unemployed men an opportunity of filling vacancies on their staffs . . . if they can be placed in personal touch with deserving and suitable men,” or the equally absurd statement that, “ realising the needs of the country,” the board proposes to bring tbe two together. THE NEEDS OF THE COUNTRY. THE NEEDS of the country today are constructive schemes of employment and not more bureaus, and the private employer can be trusted to look after his own business without the attentions of an added number - of bureaucrats whose recommendations in any case would be quite valueless to him. There is increasing buoyancy in the labour market to-day, but there would be more buoyancy still with a substantial remission in taxation calculated to unshackle industry and enable the employer to get his head higher above water. MODERNISING HANMEK. NEW ZEALANDERS have been too prone to think that because nature lias provided abundantly the natural attractions for their tourist resorts, visitors should be grateful for the sunshine and scenery and expect little else. The modern resort needs more than clear air and a good climate. There must be an easy and attractive approach to it, good accommodation and something to do when one gets there. Hanmer provides all of these basic requirements, but she still handles her resources diffidently. The next step is to modernise all the amenities for public entertainment. The venerable tea kiosk in the gardens should be replaced by something more in keeping with a place that is fast becoming the playground of Canterbury. The golf course should be brought up-to-date and grass tennis courts are a summer necessity. And although the bathing facilities are urgently in need of improvement, and this applies particularly to the ladies’ baths, it is a mistake to imagine that the baths in themselves provide more than a minor diversion in the pastimes of the day. NO ALTERNATIVE. ' I ■'HE American elections, which are hailed as an overwhelming victory for the New Deal, may be regarded as another indication to big business that in the immortal words of General Johnson,they cannot monkey with this bird,” that is, the Blue Eagle. Actually the American people dared not revoke the Presidential policy, for they suffered enough under the old order to go on taking a chance with the new. In any case, a change of policy to-day would have been attended by the gravest perils. The American people, in fact, have no alternative to-day to the Pioosevelt programme, and they are likely to go on supporting it so long as powerful vested interests are its strongest critics.