The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, MAY 24, 1927. UNEMPLOYMENT AND WAGES

Hokitika Guardian, 24 May 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, MAY 24, 1927. UNEMPLOYMENT AND WAGES

Sn.Mi; time ago the Council ot the Auckland Chamber of C unmerce ret 11 j> a special committee to investigate and dismiss the existing unemployment and to suggest measures for its relief. The resultant report is no.\ before the publie. To some extent the present industrial depression is attributed to excessively high taxation, to an undue influx of immigrants, and ti /ark of system in tin; planning ol our public works. But the report finds the chief cause of lack of employment, and the conditions that produce it. in “unsound social, industrial, and fiscal legislation,’’ and accordingly suggests that such legislation should he '‘reconsidered” in certain definite ways. It may he observed, comments the Auckland “Star.’’ that the Gamers of this report especially disclaim any desire to make political capital out of the situation, since “all parties alike must accept responsibility for placing on the Slatuti> Book - the measures contributing to the present position.” We have therefore no desire to attribute t > the authors of the report political partisanship in the ordinary .sense of the term when we point out that the “social. industrial, and fiscal legislation” indicated, will he found on examination to cover a very large proportion of the Labour laws passed originally by tlm Liberals of the Ballauee-fseildon-Ward regime, and over sinee closely associated with the name and the traditions of Liberalism. This is the legislation which the Auckland Chamber of Commerce wishes to have “reconsidered.” and the special change that it most ardently desires is “in the direction of restoring freedom of eontract in the marketing of produce and the offering or acceptance of employment.” We have no intention of entering just now into the vexed question of market control, and wo admit that there is a groat deal to lie said on both sides of this controversy. But the matter of the minimum wage seems to us to stand in a very different position, and in the public interest it is desirable that this particular issue should he presented as clearly as possible. What this report especially objects to is “tbe statutory prohibition of flic acceptance of employment otherwise than under strictly prescribed conditions,” on terms laid down “regardless of the economic position of the industries.” It is rather astonishing to learn, at this time of day. that the economic position of the country and of the industries concerned has not been taken into account by our Arbitration Courts in fixing tbe minimum wage. But. anyhow, the Auckland Chamber of Commerce wants the country to revert to “freedom of contract in the offering and acceptance of employment,” and this clearly means abolishing the minimum wage. The publie will bo surprised that any responsible body of public men. knowing something of the industrial history of New Zealand, should now advocate the restoration of that system of unrestricted competition in the field of industrial employment which closed with the establishment of our arbitration system, more than 30 years ago. Tbe great mass of tbe people of New Zealand are well aware that, whatever can be urged against our Arbitration Courts, tbe establishment of the minimum wage has conferred inestimable benefits upon tbe whole country, and any attempt to revert to the old “laisser fa ire’’ system, now so widely discredited throughout the world, would be a thoroughly retrograde and reactionary step which no democratic community could tolerate. As for the sympathy which this rejxirt expends upon the employers who have to pay the minimum wage, we commend once more to the attention of the Chnnilvcr of Commerce the dicta of many Arbitration Court judges in Australia and New Zealand, to the effect that an industry or enterprise which cannot afford to pay a decent wage to its workers has no right to exist. AYe think that the Auckland Cl cun her of Commerce should l>e commended for its zeal and public spirit ill raising this discussion. But we also think it most unfortunate that so influential a public body should associate

itself with proposals so reactionary and so dangerous to our social and industrial peace.