NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 53, 26 November 1920, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY

.If Mr. Hughes carries out his plan for solving tho basic wage problem in Australia lie will have removed one of the most objoctionablo features of the present wago system. A wage based -on the supposition that id addition to the wage-camel's e. certain number of dependants have to be maintained, and paid to all workers whcither they have dependants or not, is socially unsound. It puts a premium on bachelorhood and small families, and is a principal cause of tlie small natural increase of the population. The late Holman Government in New South Wales proposed last year to make a special extra payment for children instead of raising the wages of oil workers, but since the change of Government in that State little has been heard of tho plan. Mr. Hughes'6 proposal of a basic wago of M a week, with «n endowment of 12s. a week for each child, is similar to the New South Wales idea. Tho difficulty will he to devise a convenient working arrangement for collecting and distributing the children's endowments. Mr. Hughes suggests that the £1 a week basic wago should be paid to all employees, and a per capita amount for each worker paid by the employer into a pool, the endowments being paid from tho pool. This will mean State supervision over all wages. In some establishments, with mostly unmarried workers employed, there will be a surplus on the children's endowment poo!, tn others, with married workeis with large families, there will be a deficit. Presumably some State bureau or pay office will be required to collect the surpluses and distribute the amounts required to make good the deficits. Then there is the question whether 6uch a change in wage payments, despite its soundness, will bo popular with wage-

New Zealand is evidently about to receive an? excellent advertisement in the moving pictures of the Princo of Wales's tour. The description supplied in yeste'rday's messages makes it clear that scenes and incidents in this Dominion are prominent in the picture, despite the compression that must have been necessary to bring the doings of so many months on to the screen without tiring nn audience. This picture will give our 'kinsfolk overseas an idea both of the scenery of our country and the loyal enthusiasm with which its p.eople welcomed the future, head of tho Empire. It will be visible evidence that he who runs may rea<l of the very real ties of affection and regard that bind the Empire together. Such propaganda should have a valuable effect on people in the Old Country who are thinking of emigrating, and will help to convince them that although New Zealnnd may bo the most distant land of all, it is nevertheless just a bit of Britain dropped in the Pacific Ocean, with a warm welcome fo." British brains and energy^

With on outlay of five and a half millions on war gratuities and advances under the repatriation scheme totalling 24 millions, New Zealand has expended by gift and loan an average of about J!300 per soldier in re-establishing the members of it 6 Expeditionary Force in civil life. Iti is a fine record; and a fittine acknowledgment by the community of the gallant conduct of its troops in the field.

It is contended by the Retiurned Soldiers' Association that in consequence of the increased cost of living, war pensions are no longer on an adequate scale. The total number of pensions in force on March 31 last was 34,571. of an annual value of JH,8G9,365. Of these 9200 pensions, amounting to .£519,000 per annum, were to widows and dependants; 2130. totalling ,£120,510, were to permanently disabled soldiers; and the balance —23,144 pensions worth .£1,223,000. per annum—were temporary pensions to less seriously disabled men. The total number' of New Zealand wounded in the war was 41,315. It is surprising to learn that 25.000 of I'hese are still in need of pensions—five pensioners out of every eight men wounded. At present, out of a pensions expenditure of nearly two millions a year, tho widows and other dependants of deceased soldiers and the permanently disabled receive only ,£615,000. This indicates thai; much more liberal treatment might lie given to permanent pensioners without extra burden to the State na the heavy lisp of temporary pensions diminishes.

More complete statistics of the losses caused by strikes should have tt valuable educative effect. The Chambers of Commerce resolution on the subjecif deserves the attention of the Government, and it would be money well spent to make an analysis of all strikes, both in tho gains to the workers, when t3iere are any, and the total loss and disturbance occasioned so far as it can bo accurately measured. Strikes on trivial grounds, 6uch as this Dominion has too frequently experienced of late, indicate a weak sense of tlheir responsibility as units in the community by the workers concerned. Tho strike -will probably continue for many a long year as tho last resort in industrial disputes—but that should be its position, ihe last resort, and not tho first, as it frequently is to-day.

» » » » With America outside the League and engaged in building a Navy to "lick creation," the Geneva discussions on disarmament can hardly be expected to be more than academic. The League of Nations has power to prescribe regulations for the miliiriry, naval, and air force armaments of any nation which may in future apply for ndmiss'on. It may make plans for reductions in armaments, and recommend tCieni to the various Governments concerned. There is nothing, however, to compel any State to heed the recommendations except tho .pressure W public- opinion. At the moment America and Japan nre rapidly increasing their navies; Geruinn good faith in disarmament! is not yet conclusively demonstrated; liussin is thirsting lor blood: and south-eastern Europo is in :i condition of the utmost instability. In these circumstances disarmament is a subject! llmt. might, have been discreetly omitted from this year's agenda, paper at Geneva.