EMPLOYERS' REPORT

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 103, 28 October 1933, Page 8

EMPLOYERS' REPORT

fTo the Editor.) Sir,—The report of the Employers' Federation, as published -in your issue o£ October 26, makes the most heartening reading, when compared with any previous report. It not only shows a broadening of outlook, but a desire to ascertain the facts of the position with which we are surrounded. Looking back over the work of our statesmen, the work ot various conferences, etc., we find that they have been chiefly concerned about balancing Budgets, paying the bondholder, banks, and Stock Exchange, currency manipulation, not one of which questions is seriou»ly capable of increasing consumption, and so leading to' a greater exchange of commodities and better business. Amongst the recommendations, made w one that is capable of doing much useful work, namely, that a research committee be sot up for the study of current problems, and I would suggest a few problems, the study of which will go far to elucidating our difficulties. (11 The establishment ot a Council ot Industry on the linos of our apprenticeship committees, which have iv many cases proved very successful. (2) 'I'o study the threetold national value of a worker. (;{) The economic value ol a more liucral pension, scheme. (1) Shortening hours of labour, with a view to absorption of the unemployed. (.}) Establishing a compulsory retiring age, with a more liberal retiring allow(6) Uneconomic waste in our methods of distribution. (7) Increasing the power ot consumption to the level of production. ' (S) Reproductive work tor unemployed. It must be rerneoibeiod, however, that a one-sided consideration of these qnes : tious will not go far to. an adequate solution- it requires that the other side ot the matter should be fully represented also.—l am, etc., W. MADDISON. (To the Editor.) Sir, —Mr. Mitchell.-iu his address to the Employers' Federation upbraids the people of is'eW Zealand because "they had not followed the American example of wholehearted adoption of a common policy" similar to tin; outstanding feature of the N.lv.A. plan in America, "where the people wove prepared to back the President to the hilt in an endeavour to make the experiment a success." Docs Mr. Mitchell realise that in New Zealand the (iovermneut has not adopted a common

policy tor the betterment o£ the people in general, but that the trend of its policy is lopsided and distinctly party and sectional? Has the Government not been asked over and over again by deputations and almost every means o£ approach to make some worth-while experiment to help the sufferers in the depression, and if it did would not the people in general get behind and co-operate? How can the people in justice to themselves ignore the high exchange without a incaus test, the building (subsidy free gift, tho wheat subsidy, the go-slow policy of land settlement, the overflowing production of the country alongside the poverty of the parttime employed and unemployed, and the reduced spending power of the people while the Government aims at higher prices? Will Mr. Mitchell way what part of the above programme he approves and what great experiment is there on behalf of the people that they can gather. enthusiasm to support:' Whether he wins out or fails, America's President is trying^ to do something for the hundreds of millions in U.S.A.—Cor all the people. Unfortunately our Government cannot see the position as the people see it, .and will not come out to have a look at it. —I am, etc., EQUITY.