PRESS COMMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 14 March 1928, Page 4

PRESS COMMENT

Recent statistics reveal remark able power of adaptation and adjustment to changing i onditions. But there remains a very considerable stagnant population, unemployed, and without immediate hope. 'I lie stagnant pools oi labour arc a problem urgently deimttvling attention. A similar problem i.- confronting die New Zealand, people; and the comprehensive scheme of afforestation just announced by llm Government-- together with Ihe proposal to turn many hands now idle 1 1o tin- work ol restoring deteriorated . lands and bringing them into a state of productivity—is to lie welcomed as an admirable frontal attack on the j problem.—‘•.Marlborough Express. - ' j A ear after year we have pointed out that if labour is to be absorbed in anv quantity it must lie by the secondary industries and not by the farms, but the secondary industries have been starved, penalised by taxation, and thwarted, while the Government lias concentraled all fts efforts on the encouragement of the primary industries, and even those have received no benefit, from its policy. There has been no attempt to extend .settlement or increase production. For years, indeed, since the war ended, wo have looked in vain to the Government lor any display of statesmanship or for any intelligent under- I standing of the economic problems. I We cannot lay all our shortcomings . to the blame of the Government, hut j we can and do say that Lho record of the Relnrni Government has been one ! of continuous extravagance and ad-' mioistrat ive incompetence.—‘Lyttelton Times.”

AIT Amery lias proved himself the possessor of the kind of temperament that is most valuable in an ambassador of Umpire. It is conducive to confidence in the maintenance of the best Imperial relations to have had in our midst the representative of His Alajesty’s Government who presides over the Department in the conduct of which New Zealand is particularly interested. It would he advantageous to the Empire and helpful to its advancement along the lines of pre-sent-day policy, which aims at a closer measure of co-operation and mutual support among the countries which compose the British Commonwealth of Nations, if it could he arranged that members of the Home Cabinet could make more frequent visits to its widely-separated parts.—“Otago Daily Times. - '

The Arbitration Act has become an instrument for dictating wages and increasing wages without reference to ihe service rendered, and it operates to the economic hurt of the Dominion by overpaying, the incompetent and dull workers out of the real earnings of the skilful and industrious. The result is that the country gets nothing extra in wealth and service from the inferior worker a'nd gets less than it ought from the good worker, who gains nothing from giving of his host. This involves a continuous loss to the nation. A further source of loss is the injury which is inflicted upon the Dominion by the discouragement of the primary producer, who is the ultimate hearer of the burdens which the Act places upon industry. Unless the Parliamentary Committee faces these and kindred questions with perfect, frankness, its deliberations will he worth very little. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to expect that the committee will face the real issue. It is not only that our politicians are not accustomed to look clearly at economic principles and economic facts, not very well equipped bv Nature to do so. They are also, as politicians, hardly capable of forgetting wlmt the opinion of the voters will be.—Christchurch “Press.”

Economically our industrial system is quite unsound, and the present condition of the labour market is hut a symptom of that unsoundness. We are being called upon to pay the price of our infraction of the economic laws, and until we deal with the root of the trouble wo will never get very far. Unfortunately there is no one on the political horizon at present with the ability or the courage to stand up and j tell the country what is wrong with ' it, or devise means for altering or j abolishing the present inelastic sys- j tern of wages control. Only economic j pressure will awaken the public to a j realisation of the hard facts that as j a country we must work harder and j do with less than we have been ac- | eustomed to in Ihe past, and that the wide disparity between the earnings : of the producer and the worker in the j •sheltered industries must be reduced J before prosperity can be permanently established.—“Taranaki News.”

The traders who supply the’ public , with the ordinary necessaries of every- ' day life would he singularly accommo- ! dating if they were to look on, without concern and without protest, at the growth of a system under which, whoever may profit by it. they are al- | most certain to suffer, either Through j the loss of sales or through the crea- ; tion of had debts. It is small con- j solation to them, moreover, to be told, j as probably they may be told, that j the hire purchase system is advan- j tageous to the industries in which ; it is practised, because the demand 1 for the goods produced in these industries has brought about a reduction in the costs of production and i has thus furnished a stimulus to j trade.—“Otago Daily Times.” '

The country has now had over three months’ experience of the operation of the Summer Time Act and is in n position to express its judgment oh

the merits and demerits of the innovation. Two or three correspondents have taken advantage of our columns to state their views on the subject without, - perhaps, offering any original contributions to a subject which in present circumstances is of very great interest, and we may express the hope that many other persons, particularly those whose experience of daylight saving would be of value, will participate in the discussion that has been opened.—“Otago Daily Times.” There is nothing harsh or unfeeling in suggesting that assistance fo.r Loose in distress should be organised on business lines. The ultimate result "'“"■ld be to the benefit of them ail. I hose who-ask most would not find it so easy to obtain most; those most deserving wuld not run the same ii.sk ot being overlooked. Nothing elaborate is demanded. Where relief is sought on the grounds of uncnipl.iyiimut, evidence tfiat the breadwinner is on the official register of unemployed should he required. Then an exchange ol lists by the institutions would, without any injustice lo the distressed, help to prevent or'.‘.’lapping. Again the private organisations should keep closely in touch with the Hospital and Charitable Aid Botird. I iiis is especially necessary. It handles public funds, raised by taxation, and is entitled 1o full assistance i;t assuring that they aie expended to the very best advantage. There is plenty of evidence for those who seek it that in the combined social problem of unemployment, distress and relief, system of organisation are becoming daily more essential.—“ New Zealand Heraid.” There are waste spaces all over New Zealand unfitted for farming, but well adapted to growing certain varieties of trees. Returns from this uiid'ivcalfMg cannot be looked for at once, but it ,'s good building for the futile- and will relieve immediate necessity. It seems to Ire the only direction in which a practical opening for giving work to unemployed Ims, :m.| i.v I fie time the afforestation am] ot'an work cieated for the contingency comes to n end. the natural progress of the country will, it may well ho anticipated, take up tlie unemployed surplus of genuine workers, a'ways provided that in the meantime that surplus is not kept up, and added to by a conlinuat ion of the mistaken immigration policy hitherto fostered by the Govei'nmen!.—• “ Wairarapu Age.”