The Daily News. TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 1922. STATE HELP FOR FAMILIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 August 1922, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 1922. STATE HELP FOR FAMILIES.

5 Both in Australia and New Zeai land a section of the community js is seeking to foist on to the State (j the duty of maintaining the #amiJi lies of individuals. Not only is there a demand for a basic wage ? to be calculated on an average | family of a wife and two children, J but also for a specified endowment for each child in excess of the ■ two included in the basic wage, up 11 to the age of fifteen. The methods i proposed for carrying out this i charitable aid plan vary considerI ably, though the State figures as the first and last resource, for in the first instance legislation is required to create an artificial system of wages for married workers with families, and, as a last resource, the State is to find the subsidies that are claimed. It will be noticed also there is a proposal that a portion of the pay earned ' by single workers shall go towards maintaining the children of their married confreres, while it maybe matter for remark that, so far, no proposal has been brought forward to equalise wages by taking from those who earn extra large pay a proportion of their earnings fc_- the less fortunate workers to spend. In the Bill introduced by Mr. M. J. Savage in the House last week, and read a first time, the principle is enunciated that the State is to be responsible for the maintenance of wage-earn-ers’ families, by means of taxation made to fall on .hose who eia bear it, so that instead of some small measure of relief being granted to the already over-bur-dened taxpayers, they are to he called upon to support other peo pie’s families, not only those under charge of their parents, but all others who are removed from that control by reason of the parents’ unworthiness. A point that has to be kept in view in connection with this claim for support is that it is to be a fixed principle, and not to be considered as applying to cases of poverty and distress. The responsibility of parents for the maintenance of their children is to be transferred to the community, and the question at once occurs as to what sort of a guarantee there would be that the children would benefit from these State and other doles. The really conscientious parents would mostly scorn to live on charity, but the wasters would dissipate the unearned income on their own cravings, so that in not a few cases the children would, be worse off than ever. As for expecting the single workers to pay away a proportion of their earnings for married men’s families, the idea is too absurd for serious consideration. Assuming that a law was made for that purpose, what would happen would be that, as piece work is largely barred, a system of subcontracts would come into being, and the ultimate effect of that would be to materially constrict the amount of work available for,

married men, and so impose further burdens on the ratepayers. Work and wages can only be adjusted on economic lines, and if the State interferes to prevent the working of the economic laws, then, disas-i ter will follow. There is, how-, ever, one duty the State might and; should undertake, and that is the provision of maternity homes or hospitals throughout the Dominion, making due provision for a reasonable amount of after care. The member for Grey Lynn (Mr. F. N. Bartram) quoted statistic, showing that during ten years 22. 229 lives of mothers and children were lost, owing to bad environment, and he asserted that this loss was the result of State neglect. Such a sweeping allegation; cannot be accepted. Admittedly environment is a factor in human existence, yet mostly it is what the people make it, except where insanitary buildings and , conditions are allowed to exist. One of the most urgent lessons to be learned by all classes is the need for and the will to carry out the laws of health, and it is the apathy on this matter —all too common—that is responsible for much sickness and many deaths. Without doubt peojUe should not be allowed to live in unhealthy surroundings, but the inost favorable conditions can be nullified by carelessness and callousness. jaautaAhafiijiA9*«’ essW»AaiM

to the people, the lattei* have their duties and responsibilities, and it is only by each doing their part that independence and self-re-spect can be maintained. To pauperise the community would result in making what evils at present exist assume proportions that would be fatal to progress and prosperity.