NO CURE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20190, 5 July 1928, Page 7

NO CURE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT

FINDING SUITABLE WORK IS ONLY WAY TO COPE WITH PRESENT PROBLEM SPEAKERS TOUCH ON MANY SUBJECTS IN ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE Appreciative refenices to tne work of the Reform Government were made in the House of Representatives yesterday hy Messrs F. Waite and Allen Bell, mover and seconder respectively of the Address-in-Beply, who, in their speeches, discussed events of current interest and problems lacing the Dominion at the present time.

ROUND THE MAP

AFFAIRS AT HOME AND ABROAD [ Per Press Association ] WELLINGTON, July 4. When the House of Kepi esen tatives met this evening Mr E. Waite (Ciutha) moved: 4 ‘That a respectful Address be presented to his Excellency the Gov-ernor-General in reply to his excellency’s {Speech. ” In doing so he paid a tribute to the Governor-General and. Lady Alice Fergussou in setting such a high example to the people of New Zealand in their interest in the public welfare. Mr Waite expressed the warmest approval of the Kellogg Peace Treaty, which he said was particularly welcome nt the present time. He also regretted that U.S.A. had remained outside the League of Nations, which, hesitancy had hindered the process of disarmament. The foundation of the League was the greatest of the many peace movements designed to abolish war which all had such reason to deplore. The history of these movements was traced by the speaker, ' who claimed that out of all these negotiations one fact stood out; namely, that the British nation above all others was earnest in its request for peace, proof of which was the extent »o which she had carried her policy of disarmament. The Americans’ naval building programme was next described and its reduction by Congress and its sequer, the invitation to join Mr Kellogg’s pact. He believed that between Britain and the United States war was impossible in the future and so far as these nations were concerned, war was indeed outlawed. The Samoa Disturbances Touching on Samos, Mr Waite said no one need be surprised to findtrouble existing there. To buy good copra cheaply and sell bad liquor dearly had for many years been the purpose of certain people and interference with this trade was naturally resented. The Royal Commission had, however, vindicated the Administration, and he believed they could await the result of the Mandates Commission with every confidence. The position in Samoa to-day might not be entirely satisfactory but they could have full faith in the new Administrator (Mr S. S. Allen), who was a man of few words but one who knew how to act firmly when required. Empire marketing problems were next discussed, trade within the Empire being urged because British goods could always be relied on for quality, while British workers were more likely to consume New Zealand products than were their foreign competitors. It was now for New Zealand to follow up the efforts of the Empire Marketing Board by giving New Zealand meat and other products full publicity and above all by the regulation of shipments to London. * Mr Waite expressed approval of the recent national industrial conference called by the Prime Minister, though it was too much to expect that a solution of all conflicting problems could be found as a result of the negotiations of such a conference. Rural finance was progressing favourably and the bonds wore being taken up rapidly, the security being generally considered* good. That part of the Intermediate Credit Act which provided for the formation of associations was a success, especially in the North Island, thus falsifying the predictions of the critics of the Act. Unemployment Unemployment, -said Mr Waite, was a problem which depended upon many causes, and was a difficulty which came, no matter which Government was in power. The first gang of unemployed were employed on Shortland Crescent in Auckland in 1842, and ever since there had been unemployment. There was no cure at all for the complaint. The only way to cope with it was to find suitable work for those able to undertake it. Other countries were not so well off as Now Zealand was and what New Zealand wanted was to get back to a better sense of proportion. This brought him to speak of the large sum of money spent in education The primary schools were probably giving full value, but he did think too much was being spent on high schools and colleges and the university. If farming could be made to pay, boys would stay on the farms, blut so long as they found they could make more money by distributing goods than by producing them, they would stay in town. For this reason he was glad to sec that agricultural education was

coming into its own. L'cw Zealand wanted trained farmers rather than debtors and lawyers, of whom there were already more than enough. He predicted a period of prosperity for the people and to those who saw difficulties for the country, he would point to the crowds of well-fed, welldressed pcojilc who were to be seen in every part of the Dominion. He was pleased to sec that the Government was endeavouring to preserve a fair balance between all sections of the people by legislating for all alike and not for one section of the community more than another. (Applause). 4 ‘Be Prepared!” Mr Allen Bell (Bay of Islands) in seconding the motion, after paying a felicitous tribute to his Excellency and Lady Alice Fcrgusson, gave his approval to the peace proposals. At. the same time he urged that the people should not be lulled in a sense of false security, as they were before 1914. He therefore approved of the compulsory military training of the country’s youth, from which nothing but good could come. He regretted the attitude of the Opposition towards Samoan affairs. He knew and admired General Richardson and how he had striven to be. fair all round, and so far as later developments were concerned, he entirely approved of the firm stand taken by the Government to counteract the intrigues of the Hon. O. F. Nelson, whose methods had been strongly condemned by the Mandates Commission. He had every confidence in the new Administrator, who, he believed, would have behind him a high record of efficient government. The Industrial Outlook Regarding industrial troubles, Mr Bell advocated the free labour movement, without which the country could never progress. He was emphatically against the preference clause embodied in so many of the Arbitration Court 's awards. . He depreciated the attempt made to saddle the responsibility for unemployment on to the Government. In America, England and Australia the position was worse than here. Indeed in New Zealand it was seven times better than it was in America. Immigration was in a sense responsible for unemployment, but it was useless to suppose that this country could ever reach the pitch of greatness nature intended on 1,250,000 people. Under the circumstances- the Government did wisely to restrict its immigration policy but he looked forward to the day when they could renew that policy. Much could be done to improve the position of the country by the remodelling of the Arbitration Court, lowering the Customs duties on the necessaries of life, and the abolition of trusts and combines, which were undoubtedly hindering the welfare of the people. Helping the Producer Mr Bell advocated payment by the Government of freight on all fertilisers brought into the country, so as to give an impetus to the cultivation of the poorer classes of land. Nothing could be of more value to the primary producers than some such help as this, and nothing would give a greater return to the State in increased production. Conditions of land settlement were quite different from those of 30 years ago—prices all round had increased —and he hoped that in the new land settlement scheme of the Minister’s there would bo some provision for overcoming the new difficulties which had arisen. The land policy of the old Liberals was very well, but it did not go far enough, and no land settlement scheme which did not give the settlers good roads within a reasonable time would meet modern requirements. Never had such progress been made in this respect as had been made since the present Government came into power. Only recently he had witnessed the opening of a metal road for which the people had waited 40 years. The State should inaugurate some great treeplanting scheme, upon which in the depth of winter men could be more profitably employed than on road-making.

He advocated an extension of tfce life of Parliament and he hoped the Government would, this session, make some pronouncement on the subject. He referred with pleasure to a visit he recently paid to the South Island, speaking in glowing terms of its magnificent scenery, and concluded by urging the Government to utilise every opportunity to bring to the notice of prospective tourists its beauties. The speaker concluded by pronouncing a eulogism upon the Prime Minister, who had guided the ship of State with ability and sagacity in the face of great difficulties. The debate was adjourned on the motion of Mr H. E. Holland (Leader of the Opposition) and the House rose till to-morrow afternoon.