VICTORIAN M.P. URGES MORE WORK

Grey River Argus, 27 March 1948, Page 2

VICTORIAN M.P. URGES MORE WORK

AUCKLAND, Marell 25.. The general production levels in New Zealand could be increased at. least 20 per cent, if the workers pulled their weight, said Mr W. J. Beckett, leader of the Victorian Legislative Council, at the conclusion of a tour of the North Island. The opportunities for Australia and New Zealand to meet the worldwide demand for their products was gradually disappearing, owing to poor production, he said. Mr Beckett said the craze seemed to be fore more wages for less work. He considered the average worker would accept Arbitration Court decisions and obey the law, but there seemed to be “rat-bags” behind the workers in Australia and New Zealand, who wanted to push the workers on for more wages. “There is a misleading air of prosperity, and never was so little done for so much,” he said. There was comparatively' small trade between Australia and Nesw Zealand. He had seen Canadian cigarettes, Californian and South African dried fruits and imported clothing in New Zealand shops at prices far above those at which Australian products could be sold here. He considered that the trade between the Anzac countries should be on the same basis as that between the Australian States- -free and without restrictions.