The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1928. THE POINT OF VIEW.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 September 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1928. THE POINT OF VIEW.

The Greymouth morning paper in its vendetta against the Member for Westland accuses Mr Seddon oi being guilty of voting to reduce “wages” ! The Argus, ,of course, arrives at this con- . elusion merely by straining the position very unfairly. It proposes to prove its case by quoting Mr Seddon as voting with the Government on the question of payment for relief work. The question of the reward for relief work is a very different matter from ordinary wages, but of course, despite its hundred eves, the Argus will not see the difference. It would appear it has one blind eye where Mr Seddon is concerned, and like Nelson of old, uses that on occasions when circumstances arc convenient. The general render knows that the relief works were established to assist in tiding over a time of difficulty in the matter of general em.ploynient. With men in the cities walking a,bout, and the labour market congested, something had to lie done. Having exhausted the scope for employment on general public works, the Government took up the matter of relief works. Blit, ns this was purely temporary occupation, a special rate was laid down. This was a living wage, until other avenues of occupation at standard rates were available. The country had not the means to keep the large number of men unemployed in occupation at the regular rates. It was obvious if such were offered the works would he full-handed, and a volume of expenditure would lie maintained which the country could not afford to finance. In the general interests alike of unemployed and the country at large the position was very fairly met .by an allowance of ]2s for married men and those with dependents, and 9s . for single men. So far as we have seen the rates in operation, the men were grateful for the opportunity of earning, and wo have not heard of any .grumbling from malcontents. On some works the men have been kept going steadily for weeks now, and their anxiety appears to be that the relief money may not lie exhausted and the work stopped. The experience of this part of Mr Seddon’s electorate, under the relief rates has not been unfavourable, and when men are out of employment at standard rates, they are ready to seek the relief work, and arc satisfied when they obtain a berth. According to the Argus, Mr Seddon’s offence is in supporting tlie Government when the policy was challenged by a Labour amendment which sought to give away more than the country could afford. Mr Seddon voted obviously for what was Jractieable, in all circumstances, and vhic.li is not proving at nil unsuooesstil. It would have been very pleasant o support a higher rate, but as the money was not there, why attempt for , omething which was the impossible. ] 'lie army of unemployed wlm have bene- , tted bv the relief rates will he more ■rateful to the Government for wli.at hey have done, rather than that less 1 •ork should bo available if higher ® ntes were to he paid. The point is 1 bait the money available is going il'ther, .giving more employment, and .j oing more general good than if the j lino sum were distributed over a lesser umber of people but in larger sums, lie Government in point of fact is rhieving the greatest good for the 11 reatost number and that is in practice I a le essence of tho best government. I '

Aritoros of the subject just referred to the Argus, of Wednesday, which mentioned the matter of relief work and assistance for the unemployed, also published a cable message under a London heading which Was ns follows: Under the heading “Immigrant starved to death, in New Zealand,” the ‘‘Daily Herald” published lengthy details of a case of Dominie Nolan, who was found dead, together with a. letter from the Secretary of the AA'aitomo Labour Party, stating the incident was one of many of a. like nature which occurred recently. He added,: “Hundreds of starving men are wandering round tile country.” This is not very patriotic propaganda on the face of it, but it follow! the usual course from the Labour source. The unfortunate central figure in the case referred to, might have avoided the end he chose for himself if ho had looked around. Surely no man need starve in New Zealand, and to say “hundreds of starving men are wandering round,” is a gross exaggeration. The AA’aitomo Labour Party has rather over-reached itself in the statement made, which is so extravagant on the face of it as to carry its own condemnation. Men with energy and self-respect need not contemplate such a fate as Labour would have us believe- is the lot of hundreds in this country. The statement is altogether too grotesque.