MINISTERIAL RANDOM TALK.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 135, 24 June 1937, Page 4

MINISTERIAL RANDOM TALK.

If wa are to judge from oue of yesterday's G^eneva messagea it would seem that our Labour Minister is talking very much . at large there, where there is, of course, no one to gainsay or to correct him. According to this message, the textile convention of the Intemational Labour Office Mr. 'Armstrong: — "When hours were redueed to 40 a week in New Zealand, income increased by 20 per cent., amouuting to £14,000,000 a year, resulting in the demand for goods increasing enormously. New Zealand was prosperous to-day because of the increased spending power of the community. In addition, tens of thousands of boys and girls leaving school were now 'absorbed into industry instead o£ walking the streets. Conservatives would not dare to repeial the 40-hour week." This reads very nicely when there is no fear of contradiction. But how far does it tally with the truth as it is known out here? It did not occur to Mr. Armstrong to explain that the 20 per cent. increase in income was offset by an even bigger percentage increase in the cost of living. Nor did he disclose that New Zealand textiles are in such short supply and so high-priced thjat even domestic demands cannot be filled and -Australia is called upon to make up the deficiency. As to the "tens of thousands of boys and girls leaving school," we all know pretty well how far that is regarded here as matter for congratulation. Evidently Mr. Armstrong did not consult his colleague the Minister of Education, when he spoke thus at random for the purpose of bolstering up his own pet project.