UNEMPLOYMENT AND TAXES

Hokitika Guardian, 13 June 1930, Page 7

UNEMPLOYMENT AND TAXES

The Minister of Lands, in his speech at Master ton on Saturday, struck the right note in his reference to the unemployment problem. The relief works already provided are beneficial not oniv because they are relieving the hardships which the unemployed have been enduring, hut because they are preparing the way for the extension of settlement in many direction. Tint these are at best only temporary expedients, «.nd the only remedy that s likely to have any permanent effect in preventing unemployment is, in Mr Ransom’s words, “to bring idle or partly-used lands into full use and occupation.”

ft is this conception of land settlement, not only as a method of ex plot ing the Dominion’s natural resources and enlarging its productive capacity but of proi iding means of employment and subsistence for all who are prepared to utilise them, that underlies

the whole of the United Government land policy and gives it unique importance and value. Here, as in so many respects, the Government of tov is the natural heir and legatee of the Liberal Government which forty years ago initiated tlie policy of breaking down restriction and monopolies and cleared the way for democratic progress, more especially in regard to t*'e occupation and use of land. It is r arp'c 1 y owing to the neglect of the ? : Wnl land policy, and the cessation f tL'-iso efforts on behalf of the mass•>s wbi'h made the Baliance-Seddon-,rn Dmo/is in our political history, n -at this country Is temporarily overwhelmed bv a wave of Industrial denression, and nothing but a revision +o tf>e old Liberal attitude toward this iryi’-it social and economic problem can permanently restore our prosperity.

But it should bo evident that the Government Land policy .will take some time to carry into effect, and in the efforts that must be made to cope wilh the present emergency will involve heavy public expenditure. This is the reason and the excuse lor the Gove:nmen.t’s decision that an increase in taxation is inevitable. Sometimes such steps are necessary, and Mr Ransom and his colleagues deserve the thanks of the whole Dominion for their trankness and courage in telling us the truth. At least we have the satisfaction of knowing that the Government is taking vigorous action to relieve unemployment and is developing a policy specially devised to avert it, and we may further derive consolation from Mr Ransom’s assurance that the taxation proposals are being drafted by the Government “in the interest of the country and regardless of the effect on the (fortunes of its own party.”