MORE GOODS NEEDED

Chronicle (Levin), 26 November 1946, Page 2

MORE GOODS NEEDED

Valuable Labour Wasted MR. MAHER'S FINAL MEETING "We all want an xmproved standard of living, but it is no use giving people money unless there are goods to buy with it," said the National candidate for the Otaki electorate, Mr. J. J. Maher, in his final campaign address at Otaki last evening. Mr. Maher had an audience of about 350 in the theatre, and was given a very enthusiastic hearing. There were some interjections from a small section, but the speaker repeatedly scored off them. "The most important thing for New Zealand to do is to increase the production of goods and services," continued Mr. Maher. "I believe in increasing the output of both the primary and secondary industries. I believe in using the mfcreased output of the primpry industries to buy goods abroad that we cannot economically produce in New Zealand. "Our problems of production are serious ones, and they require the best brains in the country to cope with them. The first essential is for us to make the best use of our labour resources. Young people leave school later than they used to. Old people retire earlier than they used to. Old people live so much longer than they used to, and thereby increase the number of non-producers. The hours worked per week by those who do work have been reduced, while people do not work so hard, even during the reduccd working hours. All these factors combined create a great shortage of labour to do the necessary work of the community. Then wc aggrcvate the position by doing unnccessary work. Men and women are taken from primary and secondary industries to swell the ranks of those engaged in distribution or in more Govcrnment control. In the distributive occupations mcn are kcpt busy lilling in forms, dancing attendance on bureucrats, and in other timewasting activities merely to get quotas of goods to scll. "It is plain that we are not makIng the best use of our labour resources. More of our available labour should be employed in primary and secondary industry. The position could be improved by offering inducements to active men between 60 and 65 years,; of , age.to continue working. They should be allowed to earn money in excess of E1 a week without losing their pension rights. It is no use telling me the country cannot alford the extra pensions. What the country cannot alford is to lose the production of these men. The labour which is now tied up in form-filling, queueing up for permits for this and that, and other non-productive activi-

ties should be induced to transfer to productive work. "I do not advocate a policy of sacking. I would increase the inducements in productive occupations so that labour would voluntarily make the necesjsary change over. It is only by such means that the existing shortage of goods and services can be overcome. It is the production of goods and services which we should aim for. That is what will increase everyone's standard of living. I have talked about goods and services, and I particularly want to emphasise services. It has been said -that Ihe New Zealand woman is the hardest worked whit.» woman in the world. The women have had to go without and to endure far more than the men. You see women with a baby in one arm and overburdened with parcels, and having to put up with poor quality goods at extortionate prices. This country has not been ravaged by wai*. It has been ravaged by Labour policy."