SOCIAL ADVANCE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 209, 20 September 1937, Page 7

SOCIAL ADVANCE

-Press Association.)

"Dominion Ahead of Most Countries" MR ARMSTRONG RETURNS

(By Telegraph-

1 AUCKLAND, Last Nigkt. ' "The workers in New Zealand are as well ofE as those in any other ,country, but that is not saying that we have not yet goi a long way to go," said the Minister.of Labour, Hon. H. T. Armstroug, who returned by ihe Aorangi to-day after an extensive tour abroad, which included & visi't to the Coronation and attenuance at the International Labour Conference at Geneva. Mr. Armstrong stated that New Zealand was more advauced than most countries in its recognition of human social principlos and could claim a place in the forefront in that respect. At tho same time there were undoubted,ly examples to be found abroad in Vhich employers had advanced fur'iher ■than in New Zealand in realising that money spent on improving the health, cOmfort and conditions of tho workers while at tho job was sound expenditur^

A marked improvement in the conditions of cinpioyment had occurred in most overseas countries during the past few years, and in some countries which were supposed .to be baekward this improvement was particularly noticeable. Xn Great Britain and in some European countries many employers catered for the amusement of their employees and placed theatres and educational facilities at their disposal. In France and Germany the wrorkers were paid during their annual holidays of from eiglht to 15 days and special travelling and boar-ding facilities allowcd them to enjoy their vacations to the full. Comparing wages with the cost of living overseas, Mr. Armstrong said he was quite ccrtain that it would be impossible for workers in other countries to inaintain the standard of living of the Dominion worker. There were some countries guch as Canada and the United States where saiarics were actually higher, but the cost of living was also much greater, so that the workers did not have any advantage as far as Teai wages were coucerned. In none of tho countries visited did he think that the commodity prices were oii the wholo 'lower than they were in New Zealand. Mr. Armstrong said he had a num"ber of proposals coveriug a wide range of social and labour problems, which he proposed to submit to Cabiuet. "I am perfbctly sure New Zealand will benefit greatly as a result of my tour, particularly lf we copy the best and reject the worst," Mr. Armstrong added. Mr. Armstrong was met by Mr. H. M. Wcbb on bchalf of the Govcrnment. He leaves for Wellington ,to-morrow nigbt.