MR. MACKENZIE AND STATE EMPLOYEES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 557, 12 July 1909, Page 7

MR. MACKENZIE AND STATE EMPLOYEES.

'■: Sir,—A wrong impression was conveyed to the public and to yourself by an abridged telegram from Auckland of an interview regarding the Government enlarging its employ-' meut of people which caused you to. make the following remarks:—"Wβ nave 'Mr. 'T. Mackenzie's owe assurance on the point, for; as is recorded in an Auckland telegram in this issue, ho. says'that.'with tho improvementin:tho conditions' of. the country, the State would, of course, be able to extend its functions' as employer.' Arid there- are J. 30,000 porsons dependent on the Statu already!" . ■;"'. '" '■ •'/ . ' : The enclosed text, which will show that it was to the industries of tho State (farniing, mining, manufacturing, etc.) that should fur? hish' the people with profitable employment, and not Government work. If you will kindly publish this I shall be indebted to you. ■—I am, etc., .-■. THOMAS MACKENZIE. : : July 10.;- ... ' A '.: ' . ■'. ... •. ■.'". .." [Enclosure.] . ' :.. '■■'_ Replying to the reporter's inquiry'as to what work was available in the country, Mr. Mackenzie stated that he had had no representations made to him yet as to the amount of "agricultural work offering in the country, and was unable to express an opinion as to I. whether there wasplonty of scope for labour in this direction or not. "The State is," ht said, "doing a great deal for the unemployed. Over 9000 people are at present engaged by the Government in piiblic works, and the country must recognise that there is a limit to\the ability of the State to employ. The wages to these men, < averaging four or five days. in a'week, means at least between 30s. and 355., or, in all, a sum per year of over three-quarters of a million. People must recognise that there .is a certain ■. State capacity."- - : •;.;;■. .' ;■';■• : ; . '.'■ ■■ ■'... ■ And' do you not think more' men could be employed on public works? ■.■:.' ; ■ "I cannot see how we can continue to employ, even, this nnmber of men for the next few years/ But the large increase in exports this year (£1,850,000 to May 31, 1909, more than for the corresponding period of- last year) undoubtedly pomts. to increased means being' available' tor the development of.'.the country;' and if the conntry is developed :as it should be, and if the people are willing to take , employment in the industries of--the State,, of go into; occupations themselves—: becoming their'own, employers —there is; no reason why bur population should not'all-be profitably employed in the near future." /. ■