If I Were Prime Minister—

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 486, 16 October 1928, Page 8

If I Were Prime Minister —

THE SUX is offering a prize or €lO for the best reply to the .Question; “What Would I Do if I Were Prime Minister f To-day ure publish the 19th of the entries. The competition is “ open to all comers ana closes on October 20.

By

NORAH L. DASH

If 1 were Prime Minister—a woman Prime Minister! And why not? In this progressive twentieth century when intelligent men agree that woman should have equal opportunity with man, some of us may live to witness the advent of the woman Prime Minister. Roll on time! But I digress. If I were Prime Minister, I would deal immediately with: 1. The man who shirks his responsibilities, who goes away, leaving his wife and children —or illegitimate children —as the case may be, quite destitute. This type costs the country a considerable sum annually. I would make it a criminal offence punishable with a long term of imprisonment. While serving his term the man would be made to work 12 hours a day, with

wages, two parts of this wage would be given to the wife or dependants, and the third part retained for board. The imprisonment to continue until a change of heart took place, and the prisoner realised the privileges of his responsibilities. This would reduce taxation. The sum of money charitable aid would save by this means would be devoted to old age pensioners, crippled, deaf and dumb people. 2. I would legislate for the appointment of women police throughout the Dominion, to patrol .the streets, parks, and certain places of amusement, for the safeguarding of young people. Their powers to equal those of men constables. 3. I would separate the Child Welfare Department from the Education Department, and place it under a Social Welfare Department. This department would cover every branch of social welfare work. It would result in the closest co-operation cff all such organisations, and prevent any overlapping. The machinery being already in motion, a switch over with necessary adjustments is all that would be required. Little, if any, extra cost would be incurred; on the contrary, I

think once the change had taken place the total cost for the administration of the co-ordinated social welfare agencies would be lessened considerably. and permit a reduction in taxation. .. . . - 4. I would delete section 4» (g) ot the Child Welfare Act of 1925. and make it an offence to employ any children in street trading, or public places of amusement I should also restrict the attendance of children at places of entertainment. 5. I would appoint at least one woman censor of picture dims, and picture posters. t>. The inflated price of land and property would bo dealt with so that it would be possible to work the land with a fair prospect of success. Every encouragement (practical when necessary at a low rate of interest) would be given to men to take up land. This would ease unemployment, and. 1 believe, ultimately solve this distressing problem, for successful agricultural seasons mean a boon in industrial and city life. 7. I would entirely abolish the Defence Act and substitute a voluntary system of military training with special attention to aviation. 8. I should establish the Bible in the Schools, it being a tradition of the Empire. I believe that in many cases it is the pitiable lack of religious training which is responsible for the waywardness of so many of our young people to-day. In time of difficulty and temptation there is nothing definite within to guide them. They are as a rudderless ship. 9. I should legislate for Free Trade within the Empire, and levy a high tariff on all foreign imports. The vast potentialities of the Empire could then bo developed; it would become selfsupporting, and all the unemployed would be absorbed in the enormous beehive of industry and agriculture that would grow. The Empire would achieve added prosperity and success. America has accumulated vast wealth under Protection and mass production. As an individual firm, W. R. Morris, Ltd., Oxford, has achieved wonderful prosperity and success under Protection, while a glove factory on the outskirts of the same city, has long since been compelled to close its doors, swelling the army of unemployed, owing to foreign competition. I believe Holland is the only country in the world that has Free Trade; therefore the British Empire has no option but to adopt Protection in selfdefence. If I were Prime Minister, my country and the interests of the people would come first. Men, individually, would receive every encouragement to do their best always, and promotion would be the reward. They should learn that increased output meant increased wages and prosperity. I would permit no wire-pulling. A man’s achievement would rest entirely on his own efforts. No section of the community would be allowed to dictate terms, wages, etc., to the detriment and inconvenience of any other section. I would utilise every means to develop the spirit of Christian brotherhood. The hard-working, conscientious man would not be penalised in any way for the benefit of the shirkers. Every man would have to justify his existence, and do his full share toward helping all the others to become prosperous and happy. Party politics would be quite a secondary consideration when the broader and more important interests of the country were at stake. It would be my earnest effort to make New Zealand so happy, healthy and industrious that one could say with truth, “This is verily / God’s Own Country.”