NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 32, 1 November 1919, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY

Tub lined of prompt action by the New Zealand Government in settling the preliminaries of an immigration policy is emphasised by recent cablegrams from Great Britain. The .British Government, it seems, is receiving applications for free passages from ex-Service men and women and dependants who are proceeding to definite employment in the Dominions' or who have, been approved under settlement schemes. This means, of course, that before long tho tide of emigration will bo setting out from the Mother Conntry in whatever volume shipping available will permit;, and it may bo taken for granted that any Dominion which goes much further without adopting a settled policy of immigration will lose whatever chance it now has of attracting its share of British emigrants of the best type. If this country were pursuing such a policy as its interests dictate its agents would by this tinie be in full touch with the British emigration authorities.

Much interest will no doubt be taken in the visit of the Oversea Settlement Mission which is now touring New Zealand with a view to finding out what openings there .are for the settlement in this country of British women who served in the various war service corps and in the Land Army. It is difficult to say off-hand iust what these openings amount to, but direct investigations ought to enable the members of the mission to form definite conclusions. Apparently they are little interested in the migration of domestic servants, for whom a_gre.it and unsatisfied demand exists in the Dominion, but it does not follow by any means that their visit will be made in vain. It to some extent favours the objects they have in view that women are slightly in the minority in this country. Some onenings ought to exist for the employment of female immigrants in rural pursuits, and also in secondary industries. As regards the latter, however, particularly full and thorough investigation would be advisable as a preliminary to the inauguration of any scheme of immigration.

The task of the politician as a rule is thankless enough, and Mn. Massest probably is no more sensitive than the average member of Parliament to lack of appreciation of his legislative efforts. _ But it is rather hard 021 him in .view of the facts that lie should be singled out by a supporter of Sir Joseph Ward's as a friend of trusts and profiteers. Whatever profiteering has gone on in recent years developed under the National Government, and the Minister in Charge of the Department deputed to keep an eye on the profiteer was Sir Joseph Ward's own first lieutenant. But what adds to the irony of the attack by Sift Joseph Ward's candidate for liic Ellesme.re seat is the fact that Mr. Massi'.y has just introduced and passed into law the most drastic measure against profiteering that this or nrobably any British conimunitv has yet ventured on. Yet this Wardist candidate either in ignorance or for lack of ideas Adopting some machine-made election catch-cry, says he opposes the present. Prime Minister and sunrorts Sir Joseph Ward becruse he believes the former is the. friend of the profiteers. It is this sort, of humbug th.it made party politics as conducted in New Zealand in prewar days so contemptible, in the r.vps of* intelligent? electors and which caused such strong and wideunread resentment, when Sir JosR n H Ward, ignoring the nee/1 for unity and concentration on the t.nsk of after-war reconstruction, plunged the country over aeain into all the nettincsW and artificialities and insincerities of party warfare.

Of course it does not matter wry much to city councillors as city councillors whether they pay 2s. or 2s. Gel. or even ss. an hour to the carpentcrs the.v employ on their scheme to provide cheap houses for the people. It is not the City Council that foots the bill. Pint when Councillors Ciupmax and as good Labour men urge that the Council should pay eavwiiters 3 hiirher rate of pay than the award rate, it may be assumed til,'it I hey have not stopped to think who has to Find the money. Jfo doubt it looks like pood eleclinneorinp; talk to lie able to point lo thin advoeacv of higher pay for those cngf-trctl in the construction of workmen's homes, but is i(,? V.'ho pays the cnrnpiiters ? The money comes out. of tlie pockets of their fMlow-workmen, the men who buy (.he houses—men in most eases who receive a, much lower rale of pay than it is yußgest."' should be paid the carpenters. The hisrher the waces paid the carpenters 'lie hidier the cost, of ihe houses. 11, is not nnlv in the ease of hoiise-huildiucf Ihnt hicrh wnp°s h'-l'iincr to raise the cost of livtnt.. Some day Hie wnsre-earners will wake up_ to the. fact that when tlie watersider or ths miner or any other class of

V, Cll-1 Jili<l WOl'kel SecliS to foi'CP higher wages ;iii(l shorter hours out 1.1 Ih~ riii without a corre--jJoiuliiig increase 01. production in return, it is not tin- employe!; who will dually tool Iho hill. It is the community that pays, and the, community is chidly nuulo it it o! wagcearners.