LABOUR UNREST

Hokitika Guardian, 24 January 1930, Page 6

LABOUR UNREST

DOLE CONDEMNED. ENGLISH VISITOR’S OBSERVATIONS. AUCKLAND, January 2x. “As long as you pay men to make other men dissatisfied you will always iiave trouble,” This comment was passed on the- Ulimaroa to-day by an English public man, Mr G. A. Gale, vviien speaking of his experiences in

India and Australia. A Freeman of London as well as a liveryman of the Paviors Company, an institution of 400 years old, Mr Gale and Mrs Gale are on a world tour. Mr Gale is on the Council of the London Property Protection Association ‘and is uj member of the Parliamentary Committee of the Incorporated Society of Auctioneers. He stood as Liberal candidate lor West Fulham at the last General Election, being defeated by -abour. Air Gale has just completed a tour o. India and is firmly of opinion that it would be a great mistake to give that country Home Rule. There were too many castes and too many religions, and in Mr Gale’s opinion it would take more than 100 years to educate the millions of Indians to a sense of responsibility as far as government was concerned.

“Australia lias growing pains,” he said, “but I thing the country will get over its present difficulties. The agitators will have to be weeded out. As it is they make all the trouble. M any men get mixed upi with strikes not because, they want to, but because of intimidation. •

Referring to Great Britain, MiGale said the dole system was responsible for a great deal of unemployment-. “It a demoralising system,” he added, “despite- the fact that the worker lias to contribute. There are people, receiving the dolte and subletting rooms in their houses who make a good income without working. Certainly some of these men get job's/‘but they soon get dissatisfied and will not give their best. The consequence is that they are soon out of work again and receive the dole. For goodness sake don’t follow the English Act in vour country. It will be a great mistake. Instead of curing unemployment it will increase it. Payment should be in kind and not in money. By such a system you present men squandering the dole in drink and gambling.’’ Refering to domestic servants, Mr GSIe said they were scarce in England for the reason that they did not come under the dole system. Therefore,

girls joined factories and as soon as they were out of work were eligible to receive the dole. ‘lt is the unrest in the labour world that is contributing to the slackness in trade and unemployment,” added MiGale. “People ' are frightened to invest in industry for fear of what might

happen at any moment.”