LABOUR PROGRAMMES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 219, 16 August 1937, Page 7

LABOUR PROGRAMMES.

AMERICA AND DOMINIONS

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13.

The New Zealand Minister of Labour (Hon. H. T. Armstrong) yesterday interviewed Mr J. L. Lewis, chairman of the Committee for Industrial Organisation, whom he informed that he personaly favoured the industrial type of union, but did not feel it proper to “jam it down their throats.” Mr Armstrong obtained a general impression from Mr Lewis that New Zealand was ahead of the United States by many years in the development of a labour programme, and Mr Lewis was engaged in organisational work which New Zea’unders bad accomplished in past years. Mr Armstrong intimated to Mr Lewis that, while opposed to compub sory arbitration, he might find his opinion changed with the years. The Minister was convinced that New Zealand workers had better wages and greater purchasing power than most workers in the world. He expressed the opinion that the American “dole” did not compare in size with New Zealand’s. He said the New Zealand Government was considering the introduction of a blanket system of insurance for all citizens, who would receive help in the event of incapacity or unemployment. The scheme should be borne by the workers instead of by the taxpay er He intimated that an appeal td the Privy Council on the clerical workers’ decision would not be necessary', since Parliament at the'next session would enact a law again defining the position of the “white-collar” workers.