LABOUR’S AIMS

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20273, 16 August 1937, Page 7

LABOUR’S AIMS

NEW ZEALAND MINISTER, j DEFENCE OF LEGISLATION. [ AHEAD OF AMERICAN LAWS. t titled Press Assn—Elec. Te’. Copyright. WASHINGTON, August 14. The New Zealand Minister of Labour, lion. 11. T. Armstrong, who is on bis way home from London, interviewed Mr John Lewis, of the Committee for Industrial Organisation. He informed Mr Lewis that personally lie favoured the industrial type of union, but that lie did not feel it proper to ** jam it down their throats.” Mr Armstrong obtained a general impression from his talk with Mr Lewis that New Zealand was ahead of the United States by many years in the redevelopment of its labour programme, and that Mr Lewis was in the organisation of work which New’ Zealanders had already accomplished years ago. Opinion May Change. Mr Armstrong intimated that Mr Lewis, while opposed to compulsory arbitration, may find that his opinions would change with the years. The Minister was convinced that New Zealand workers had better wages and greater purchasing power than most others in the world, and said that in his opinion the American dole did not compare in size with the relief given to New Zealanders. Mr Armstrong said the New Zealand Government was considering the introduciion of a blanket system of insurance for all citizens to ensure their livelihood in the event of their incapacity and unemployment. The scheme should be borne by Hie workers instead of by the taxpayers. The Position Re-defined. He intimated that an appeal to the Privy Council arising from the decision regarding the clerical workers’ union would not be necessary, as in the next session of Parliament a law would be enacted redefining the position of “ white collar ” workers.