INDUSTRIAL OUTLOOK IN ENGLAND.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1587, 2 November 1912, Page 3

INDUSTRIAL OUTLOOK IN ENGLAND.

A NEW -ZEALANDER'S.' IMPRESSIONS (By Teleeraph.~Special GorreßpondenU GhrjStchUrch, October 31; ■ 'Mr. J. :A: Erostick>" head pf'.tho'bcotmaking firm of Skclt'on, Frostiek aid Co., . wlio has beta making . a lengthy tour abroad;'returned :td Christckurch. to-day.. In the course,of ah interview witli a. "Press" representative concerning his impressions of industriali affairs -in .'the Mother Country,. Sit:. Frpstick said ..it. wa? contended by some that as an industrial nation England- showed signs of deeaden.ce... .. '. . , ' "If such an opinion," Mr.' Fiostiek added, "is based solely upon the annual value of England's 'trade- aid . commerce ' per centum- pf. its .'population; I.' think, the statement ;would be decidedly wrong, but notwithstanding this great activity, . it is an indisputable fact that the average worker ,cannot,'- even;; .tinder the favourable conditions of ; .a'sound constitution and constant employment;-do more than ' maintain a reasonable standard of "physical efficiency, and it is very doubtful • if the average Wbrker can bring into his komeas.much energy-in-food as is-taken out in, industry... At any :rate,.it wouldappear to the ordinary-observer to'bo impossible for the Average worker'to create a margin ■ from- which, by- the 'exercise of .strict economy, and' thrift, he Wight become the possessor;bf.lus..ow» T ,freehol'd, and thereby independent of-the-'ever-iin-' creasing ; deniand pf 'the landlord, and so rid himself; of' that' perpetual sense of insecurity of shelter ■ for himself and family. Again, the cost of living in England is increasing '■■ at a far greater' rate than any condition ,of, labour has so far provided for, with the result that there are to-day. millions of people pathetically dependent upon' their; daily physical efficiency for their 'daily bread. Con* sequeutlj%,whenever possible, the efficient worker seeks relief 'in immigration,' and thousands of England'sbest and most use-". t'ul citizens'aro leaving ie'r shores seeking in new lands for such improved conditions. ' of life as may at least place them beyond tho border line pf poverty. . English states, men are trying to meet this great problem by What, is called the national insurance scheme. I venture-to express the opinion that, whilst the principle of national insurance is fundamentally sound, the English scheme is not sound., because it is not what it purports to be,' viz., 'national.' It does not apply:,to every class of person. Why not compel every adult male to contribute to the .'national fund by, a sliding scale of premium fixed on;a percentage of income; from 1 whatever source obtained, labour or-otherwise, the percentage increasing years from .the age- of .18 years to 3G years,', and- then decreasing'at the. same; rate as tho pre- . vious-increase, so that at the age of, say, 87, all payment to the fund-would ccasei and at 60 years of'ago everyone would bo entitled to his pension '■ according to the scale of his contribution? ~'tinder such a scheme none would.be'either penalised or pauperised. lam inclined to think that some such scheme will'ultimately evolve from the present English ''Act, . perhaps, some time in the, near: future. New Zealand statesmen hiay-find it to b©: within.tho limits of practical.-politics to work out a scheme of compulsory insurance for our. '< own Dominion." •■'■•-•.■•