ALLEGED RAMP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 July 1940, Page 3

ALLEGED RAMP

TO GET RID OF 40410 UR WEEK dr McMillan’s view. FIRST SPEECH AS MINISTER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) ' WELLINGTON, This Day. “There is a ramp on to use the war to get rid of the 40-hour week,” declared the Minister of Maripe, Dr McMillan, in the House of Representatives last evening. He was making his first speech in the House since his elevation to Cabinet. He said the Government was not going to be a party to abolishing the 40-hour week just for the sake of abolishing it.

The member for Egmont, Mr Wilkinson. had made a plea for the suspension of the 40-hour week during the war. Dr McMillan said, and yet. toward the end of his remarks, he had said the 40-hour week would be a cause of trouble whether there was war or peace.

"There is a very definite move in the country on the part of certain interests to use the war as an excuse to carry out a political policy that has nothing whatever to do with the war. ’ Dr McMillan said. "We have known for some time that that is what, is behind a lot of this propaganda. We know quite well that there are many industries where the suspension of the 40-hour week would only result in unemployment without any increase in the production of goods.

HOURS AND PRODUCTION

"What is required in New Zealand today is the maximum production of goods. That is not always achieved by increasing the hours of work. There is no doubt v.'hatever that we can produce enormous quantities of goods with efficient organisation. Social ownership or control can increase very greatly the quantity of goods produced. It is being done in England today, where the first thing clone on the outbreak of war was to take control of industry, because that was more efficient.

“More goods can best be produced not necessarily by increasing the hours of labour of certain people, but by putting more people to work. We have the need for more girls and young women in our factories. The Minister of Labour in England. Mr Bevin said those who should go to work should be not only the poor but also the well-to-do.

Mr Carr (Government, Timaru) Hear, Hear.

Dr' McMillan: “If a lot of these people, if a lot of fit younger women, would go into factories, then that would give us a greater volume of goods to consume.”

HIGH DEATH DUTIES. Dr McMillan said he was one of those who believed that death duties should bo high. Even in New Zealand it was noticed that the wealth of the country was getting into far too few hands. He did object to people reaping where they had not sown. One of the best ways to redistribute wealth was by having high death and succession duties. . Mr Wilkinson, he said, had claimed that confidence was lacking in the country. That type of propaganda could bo called mischievous propaganda. The people of the Dominion had complete confidence in the present Government, and had a good leadei who inspired their complete confidence. The Budget. Dr McMillan said. was. not all increased taxation. Legislation would be introduced to increase the family benefit, and that would reduce the’ burden of taxation on the family man. The concern of the Opposition for the family and the cradle was very recent, when one remembered the black Budgets of the depression The members of the Opposition had imposed the Sales Tax. and now they threw out a few suggestions that they were not in favour of it. Mr Doidge (Opposition. Tauranga): "In 1935 you were going to wash it OUt." -141 4 Dr McMillan, proceeding, said tnat to advocate the repeal of a tax w icn it was know that the money was needed did not carry any weight with the Public.