MANPOWER ISSUE

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22137, 8 September 1943, Page 6

MANPOWER ISSUE

CLAIMS OF INDUSTRY MR W. S. GOOSMAN’S CAMPAIGN Points in the platform of the 1 National Party were outlined by Mr W. S. Goosman, M.P., National candidate for Waikato, speaking to a well-attended meeting of electors in the Empire Theatre, Te Awamutu, last night. The speaker was given an attentive hearing, and at the conclusion of his address, on the motion of Mr J. T. Johnson, was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. In opening, Mr Goosman said the National Party had such a constructive policy to offer electors that he as a representative of the,-party had little time to waste on criticism of: the Government. The war. he said, ’ had to be won regardless of anything else and the National Party pledged the country’s resources to bringing that to fruition. Following the win-! ning of the peace the question of the rehabilitation of the soldiers who returned would present a major problem. Statement by Hon. W. Nash The manpower problem of the country was dealt with by Mr Goosman, who criticised the statement of the Hon. W. Nash that such a problem did not exist. The speaker considered that the cnly way such a statement could be explained was by the absence of the Minister from the country. New Zealand had been asked by Britain and the United States for a maximum of production, but how could such an objective be achieved under the conditions? asked Mr Goosman. We were sending men overseas with three children, he said, whereas at present the industries of the country were suffering because older men were being asked to shoulder the work of those capable of maintaining industry on the level necessary.

Mr Goosman declared his opinion that the country was heading for a breakdown. He held that a conference should be held with our Allies to ascertain whether they wanted production or fighting units. They could have one or the other. As matters were at present they could not have both.

The speaker criticised the action of the Government in turning what was intended to be a garrison force in the South Pacific into a combat force. He quite agreed, however, that the Middle East division, recognised as one of the best fighting units in the world, should be maintained. Miners’ Wages Subsidised

Mr Goosman criticised certain items of the war expenses account, that one especially under which £500,000 by way of subsidy had been paid to the miners of this country last year. There were fewer than 5000 miners and mine employees working in the coal mines of New Zealand, and this meant that each man was receiving a subsidy on his wages of £IOO a year. This subsidy came out of the War Expenses Account. While the speaker agreed that a man who worked under the ground was entitled to every consideration, there was no justification for the means used, the subsidising of the men’s wages. Mr Goosman went on to say that the party system was inherent in New Zealand politics and was necessary to stable government. He did not consider there was room for Independent candidates in Parliament and he thought, because of this, that the issue in the Waikato electorate would be between the Labour candidate, Mr Croall. and himself.

Mr Goosman paid a tribute to the leader of the National Party, Mr S. G. Holland, whom he described as a young man full of vigour and one who in business with his brother had operated a system of sharing profits with employees. It was the object of the National Party to ensure that fair play must be the keynote of industrial relations, the interests of employers and employees being inseparable. Profit-sharing and schemes of co-partnership, payment by results, co-operation and other systems to increase efficiency and workers’ pay were to be promoted and en-; couraged. It was just as absurd to | blame the National Party for the; slump as to blame the Labour Party for the war. ! Hospital Rating System Speaking on the question of hospi- i tal rating. Mr Goosman said it wasj inequitable that a person might have; a very large income and pay nothing! by way of hospital rates, while an- j other person who had even a small j section of land found himself liable | for payment of hospital rates. The i problem would be tackled in two j ways. First, rating would revert to what it was before the introduction of Social Security, and subsequent increases would be taken off the land. Secondly at a later stage he hoped that all hospital rating would be removed from the land, both town and country. Mr Goosman, speaking on rehabilitation, said preference would be given returned servicemen and that a progressive land policy based on productive values would be followed. Local independent committees of returned servicemen would be set up to deal with local problems. If, after taking the artificial amenities into ; consideration, it was found that the cost of the property was greater than the productive value, the difference would have to be spread among the community. The speaker mentioned the alarming housing conditions in the cities of the Dominion, where in many instances families lived, dined and slept in the same room. We were 60,000 to 70,000 houses short in New Zealand and the shortage was chiefly attributable to the shortage of skilled artisians. There should be no dearth of artisans in a country like New Zealand, said Mr Goosman. It had been proved, under war conditions, that the young men of the nation could become skilled tradesmen within a period of six to nine months and in the post-war period provision would be there, under National Party rule, to train returned men in the various arts and crafts. The housing problem could be efficiently tackled by this means. The National Party proposed to advance 90 per cent of the cost of the house to those who I wished to acquire a home of their I own. No Government, said the speaker, j had faced up to an amendment of the licensing laws, but his party was pledged to inquire into the liquor trade and legislative action would ! follow the people's approval of the commission’s findings. T.-EY ALL COME BACK TO “BAXTERS” Every year many cough remedies make their appearance lor a short while, but Baxters Lung Preserver goes on from strength to strength for generation after generation. “ Baxters ” has the ingredients which deal most effectively with coughs, sore throats, and bronchial irritation. Baxters Ltd., 602 Colombo ; Street, Christchurch. (i)