UNEMPLOYMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 126, 31 May 1932, Page 6

UNEMPLOYMENT

AN ADDRESS TO ROTARY CAUSE, EFFECT AND REMEDY. Cause, effect and remedy of unemployment were the main points in a speech to yesterday’s meeting of the Wanganui Rotary Club by Rev. Raymond Dudley. To define unemployment was difficult, said the speaker. When that subject was touched it had to be reckoned whether such cases as those on halftime, those in enforced idleness through strikes or industrial lock-outs, should be included. He suggested that a definition would be the enforced idleness of able bodied men aud women who were willing to wbrk, but could not find work at a definite standard uf wages. The seasonal nature of much of the work of New Zealand, because of the great amount of farming carried on iu the country, was responsible for a great amount of- periodic unemployment. Seasonal production affected not only those on the land, but those engaged in the transport of produce, arid in its distribution. ’ Another cause was the existence of I blind-alley jobs. A young man might I be attracted in the first place to a posii lion because it seemed to be lucrative, but when he had progressed so far the employer found that he could not pay beyond a certain wage, and the man was tied to thai or thrown on the street. Another cause was the restless migratory nature of some workers. They had to be on the move, moving from one district to another, from one business to another. Lack of vocational training formed another cause. Immigration, although stopped now, in past years had brought, a great influx of workers or potential workers. Artificial maintenance of wages at a standard which industry could not bear was the cause of much unemployment. Workers themselves would to admit that trade unions had been a mixed blessing. When business was good then they could stand high wages, but when business became bad there was a certain “wage-lag.” There was not enough elasticity about Uafces, as they did not move with the trend of business prosperity. Work could be found for many, and those to whom he be was speaking would know of cases, where that would be so, if it were not for some foolish award or other restriction. Poverty, sorrow to women and children, loss of character, aud loss of skill were well known effects of unemployment. The loss of character came in many cases with the youth. They congregated and with nothing to do, formed an easy mark for the lodging of revolutionary ideas. Continually women were coming to him with a. story that would show that their sons were suffering loss of character through being unemployed. Because they were employed temporarily in position where they did not use the skill they had acquired through study or through of practice, many were losing that skill. Unemployment was a slur on business organisation, also on enterprise. We, in our social system of to-day, had become used to seeing men walking the street or walking the road, unemployed. Not only was that wrong in principle, but it was giving an inferiority complex, which was a dangerous state. Unemployment insurance was good. ! said tho speaker, and in good times, business and the workers should bo building a fund to cope with unemployment. Industry should subsidise the fund In New Zealand a vigorous policy of land settlement should be followed. Tho speaker quoted the case of America, where those who had been opening up back-country had been assisted. Vocational training should receive more attention than it does, thought Mr. Dudley. The system should be extended to tho schools. Greater attention should be paid to the cost of living index numbers, which showed the changes. Also there should bo more elasticity in the wage rates. When business was not so prosperous wages should como down more quickly I instead of providing a drag on recovi cr . v - I Dovetailing of seasonal trades should be carried out as far as possible. When one seasonal trade fell off. then other work should take its place. Encouragement of saving should be fostered. Ono subject on which he felt strongly was the employment of married women when the husband was holding a good position, said Mr. Dudley A woman should realise that when she was married she was entering on an occupation, and her place.was. in the homo. There should be legislation Ito stop the taking of positions by I w’ives when the husband was earning enough to keep both. In that connection ho was pleased that the Education Boards were taking action. The thanks of the club wore ex pressed by Mr. ID. Meldrum. who led a hearty vote of thanks to the speaker.