The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1917. LABOUR MUDDLING.

Taihape Daily Times, 21 December 1917, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1917. LABOUR MUDDLING.

(With which is Incorporated The Talhapo Post and Waimarino News).

In most essential industries it is, of course, important that an adequate supply of- labour should be available, but there are men who are prone to make all labour matters subjects for

sensation-mongering. Exaggerations are so stupid that they create a scare dangerous to that steady movement of labour which is as essential as labour itself. They contribute to an unrest which results in loss to the men and to employers. There has been feverish concern about the shortage of shearers, and now a great deal of exaggerated nonsense is being circulated about shortage of slaughtermen This journal has been almost daily receiving inquiries from shearers in various districts to know if there are vacancies in sheds here, but we have failed to place even one applicant. Men have advertised for stands in this district without success, With regard to slaughtermen, we understand there are plenty; labour agents inform us that there are three slaughtermen available for every vacancy offering. In some districts this condition may, of course, vary, but there seems to be no occasion for such scare-mongering as must tend to somewhat unsettle the men so as to interfere with the regular and smooth working so needful for a successful season. The Efficiency Board has arrived at the conclusion that New Zealand needs six hundred men; officials of the Farmers’ Union estimate that eight hundred are wanted, but .the freezing works people sSy that one thousand are necessary.. There is evidently too much of the guessing element in the employers estimates; the Efficiency Board’s figures are most probably the correct ones, the Board makes exhaustive investigations before venturing upon any definite statement, so that their figures may confidently be taken as approximately correct and always on the safe side. Now there are eight hundred slaughtermen in the country to do the work for which the Board says only six hundred are required. The varying estimates or guesses look harmless enough and they would not matter only for the unrest and irritation they cause among the slaughtermen themselves. In face of what obtains Government has been advertising in Australia for slaughtermen, and is actually inviting three hundred men to come to this country for the season. Labour men and people generally are pertinently asking why the Government goes on heaping indignities on members of the Efficiency Board by virtually telling them they are incapable of the work they have been entrusted with, in over-riding their collective judgments_ If the B’oard cannot be trusted in a small matter of this kind then it is a scandal to keep it in existence. People want to know whether the Government or the Effi-

ciency Board is to be looked to for reliable information. The slaughtermen are exasperated at Government action ill bringing men from Australia u..

are not needed; feeling is running very high and there is yet a possibility that the stupid interference of Government may yet bring about slaughtering troubles. This is au instance of how heaven-born politicians make themselves responsible for the continuation of labour unrest. While actual employers and the heads of labour are searching for methods whereby the “natural-enemy” feeling may be eliminated so that greater production, less waste and labour peace may take the place of the present unsatisfactory relationships, officious politicians will persist in rubbing the old labour sore. Parliament has set up an Efficiency Board that has the confidence of the whole country, why will not certain members of the Government leave the Board to do the work for which it was brought into existence? These irritations with the '.persistent rumours circulated by who would manage labour with gun and bayonet, that we are ever on the verge of great labour upheavals, do more to bring about trouble than anything else. Let the officious meddlers leave matters to the Efficiency Board; let us have labour peace.

TAIHAPE’S NEW PICTURE THEATRE. We venture to say there were only a very few of the five or six hundred people who were present at the opening of the newly-erected King’s Picture Theatre last night, who did not i experience feelings of deepest regret o that the owner of the splendid building was prevented by serious illness from seeing how thoroughly the people of his town appreciated the fine brick structure and the thoroughly modern furnishings therein which he has provided for their comfort and entertainment. When the old wooden theatre was destroyed Mr Wilson sustained very heavy loss, as the place was not insured, but that did not deter him from saying at once, “If 1 rebuild it shall be a structure commensurate with this progressive town.” Mr Jorgensen, architect, of Palmerston North, was * entrusted with the design and pi’eparation of plans, and the finest, most substantial, modern privately-owned structure in the town is the result. Last night, great as the seating capacity is, the house was not adequate for the number of people who sought admission, but, good as the programme undoubtedly was, the pleasure of very many was intermingled with some other feelings that would not be suppressed, for regrets were being'voiced all over the dress circle at the enforced absence of Mr Wilson from the initial public entertainment. Mr 1 Nicholls, the lessee, has performed his part in equipping the theatre with the very best picture projecting plant it is possible to buy. The projector is the latest and most approved now' be- ■ ing constructed, and the pictures last night bore out the claims made by the inventor; they were remarkably clear, of perfect definition, and entirely flickerless. We congratulate the owner and the lessee in giving to our towm a building, and a picture projecting plant second to none in New Zealand, and w r e have no doubt that both will reap,the reward of public appreciation they have more than earned.

Speaking at Christchurch Sir Joseph Ward stated the New Zealand Government in the last two years had not allowed a day to pass without impressing on the Imperial Government the need for a regular steamship line to carry away the food in storage in the Dominion, but the matter was not in the hands of the shipping companies or of those in charge in New Zealand, being entirely dependent on the Ministry of Shipping. “I am able to state, however,” Sir Joseph added, “that within the next month or two, say within three months, everything that is in the freezing works in New Zealand will be cleaned out.” (Applause.) Sir Joseph said he was not in a position to give the number of ships, but some of them from Australia would have their cargo space filled up, and their freezing chambers kept empty for New Zealand produce.