WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1930, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE UNEMPLOYMENT REPORT.

G ENER ALi ACCEPT A NOE

(Special Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, June 25

The very general acceptance of the main features of the- “Unemployment Report” returned to the Minister of Labour" by the committee set up by the Coates Government two years or so ago is a good augury for the acceptance by Parliament of the recommendations of the Committee. The main features of these proposals are that all members of the community over eighteen years of age are-required to contribute a small sum to the funds and that as far as possible the reproach of “charity” shall be removed from those accepting needed assistance. Addressing his constituents at Cheviot the other night, the PrimeMinister, B’on G. W. Forbes, gave his warm approval to the scheme as it had been submitted to him by the Committee, and both the Right Hon J. G. Coates, the leader of the Official Opposition, and Mr H. E. Holland, the; - leader of the Labour Party, had previously expressed their approval ol the scheme to a similar effect. Mr Holland, of course, is not quite satisfied with the. general, toll, but he is not likely to wreck the scheme on this account. LABOUR’S REQUEST. As was to be expected, Labour, through the medium -of Air H. E. Holland, makes its protest against the person of small means being required to relieve the harder lot of his poorer brother. “It is true,” the worker’s champion admitted, “that persons with incomes in excess of £3OO are to pay an additional tax of one penny in the pound ; but here again the man with an enormous income would pay only on the same flat rate per pound as the man-with a small income. The principle of graduated taxation for which the Labour movement stands would be preferable.” However, notwithstanding the taxation defect, the report is a most valuable one, and the Labour Party will press for legislation based upon the foundation principles embodied in the Committee’s recommendations. It is satisfactory to find the leader of the Labour Party in such a reasonable frame of mind. The proposals might bo easily wrecked over mere details, and it would be gratifying to find Mr Holland saving them from such a catastrophe by timely concessions which would not prejudice tlm interests at stake. .a LIVELY SESSION. On the eve of the opening of Parliament the. approaching session promises to. be a more lively ; one than seemed likely a few weeks ago. At that time the Right Hon J. ,G. Coates, the leader of the Official Opposition, seemed to be talking peace ait any , reasonable price, and Air H. E. Holland, the inspiration of the Labour Party, appeared to he calculating what amount of definite independence he might assume without inviting the United and tlie Reform parties to join forces against the third party. Since then Mr Coates has shown himself in fighting vein, perhaps under pressure from the more bellicose members of bis party, and Air Holland lias recalled a statement h© handed to the Press in February last in which it was declared that “while there would be of necessity a general atmosphere of uncertainty over practically every stage of the session, there would be nothing uncertain about every point -being pressed to- its logical conclusion.” This is n threat which the Labour leader can scarcely fail to bring to fruition in one shape or another during the present session and its development may mean anything. A BOLD HAND. It still remains for Reform and Labour to make the intimate acquaintance of the new Prime Alinister. Air Forbes as locum tenens to Sir Joseph Ward was in many respects a different man from the present leader of the United Party. His loyalty to his recent leader was completely beyond reproach. He was prepared to sacrifice everything for his friend. But now. with a free hand and with an opportunity at his door, lie is going to play his own game. What it will be, remains to be seen. For the first time he was talking to his own constituents the other night as one of his predecessors in tlie representation of Cheviot had done. “Cabinet,” he told them, “had been thoroughly looking over the Public Departments to see how expenses could be cut down. 1 daresay that means a great deal of unpopularity, but when you have figures, and when you know what they mean, then it is the duty of whomever is in charge to face the position, whether it is unpopular or not, and I intend to do so.” That is the man.