1938-03-28 — Page 10

A land where wages are going up and up, unemploy- ment down and down. That is New Zealand, which to-day celebrates two years of Labour rule.

T

WO years ago to-day New Zealand elected Labour

Government with an unassail- able majority. At this time next year, when the General Election' is held, Labour will win again.

It will win because of its impressive achievements—Impressive even in the cold print of statistics.

For this is New Zealand to-day, after its, two years of Labour rule:---

More people are working than at any time

for the past seven years;

Total wages and salaries - paid during the last Onancial year increased by 18 per cent: Workers last year received £15,000,000 more

in the aggregate than was paid even in

the best year before;, Taxable income of companies increased by

10 per cent.:

to

Assessable incomes of individuals

rose from £47,200,000

£53,500,000;

More than 103,000 persons are in receipt of higher pensions than ever before, and the number of pensioners has been increased by 20,000.

First Budget showed a surplus, and figures for the half year just ended, with revenue two millions above expectations and expen- diture threc milliona below the estimates, assure another balanced Budget.

It is good to see a Government which, while bearing its fair share of the cost of Empire rearmament, can still and money for prostable public works,

We have been spared the dis- grace of the Distressed Areas. Roads, bridges, rallways, houses for the workers are being bullt under the direction of the State.

Unemployment has been reduced by two thirds; factories are work- ing overtime, unable to cope with the rush of orders; wages are good. and the business man is benefit- Ing from the spending of those wages; farmers, under the guar- anteed price, are enjoying a stable prosperity such as they have never known before.

Called in to deal with a sick State, Labour's first action on assuming office was to tackle the evil of unemployment, The slump, Jatensifted by wage cuts, stoppage ef public works and general re- trenchment, had brought the total cf workless to an admitted 80,000 And a probable 100,000, Relief pay- ients were sadly inadequate.

ABOUR At once dis- tributed an emergency

made a general increase in relief wages. The rate for a single man jumped from 17s, to £1 18., and proportionate increases were made for married men, those with seven children receiving an increase of El a week over the previous rate *of.£2 78.

Sustenance payments-equiva- Ient of the English unemployment pay-were similarly raised, till the smallest sum an unemployed single man could receive was £1 a week, as compared with 149, under the previous Government.

A £6,000,000 public works scheme absorbed many of the unemployed, and the State placement service. which was established to act as a Haison officer between the unem ployed and the private employer. effected amazing results, work being

found for no fewer than 17,000 men in the first six months.

Latest figures show that Labour has reduced the slump total of -80,000 workless to about 30,000. And dally the number is being further reduced,

The unemployed were not the

HONGKONG

The sheep farmer, backbone of the country, is guaranteed both security of tenure

and stability of income.

Where Wages Go

only section of the needy to be assisted. Pensions had been dras- leally reduced.during the depres- slon, and Labour at once raised the old-age allowances to 1 weekly, and later to £125, 6d.

The age at which women became entitled to receive pensions way lowered from 63 to 60 years, and widows' pensions were fixed at £1 weekly, rising, to a maximum of £4 10s. depending on the number of children. Pensions were granted deserted wives, and the wives of mental defcetiyes. Invalids, miners and returned soldiers all received larger allowances...

S

OCIAL legislation was continued by the pass- ing of a Fair Rents Act, and this year, under the direction of novelist J. A. Lee, M.P., more than 2,000 houses have been built for the workers. Many more will be erected in the next few months.

National health insurance and superannuation schemes will be before Parliament shortly after Christmas, and under them the workers will be free from the in- security which haunts them under capitalism,

Educational reforms some already effected and some set down for the present session—the estab-

Prime Minister M. J. Savage inspects New Zealand mcat-in London's Smithfeld Market.

BARBER-WILHELMSEN

LINE

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To

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on 18th April

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COUNT THE “TELEGRAPHS” EVERYWHERE

Up and Up!

by Douglas Stewart

lishment of a national council for the encouragement of sport, State control of broadcasting and the promised institution of a national conservatorium of the arts, show that the Government has not_for- gotten the people's need for culture and recreation.

Of Labour's industrial reforms, 11othing aroused more interest oversons or more excitement in New Zealand than the introduc- tion of the 40-hour week.

The Government, wisely, did not attempt to enforce it immediately in all trades, but left it to the Arbitration Court to institute it where possible.

#

The almost universal adoption of the 40-hour standard is certain to come, however, and this, together with the Introduction of Dominion-wide Saturday whole holiday, which the Government is encouraging, but not enforcing, Is ameliorating the lot of the people.

New Zealand, with its sunny climate and its unlimited oppor- tunities for sport, is the ideal country for the long week-end.

T

HE restoration of salary cuts, the raising of award wages everywhere, the fixing of a basic wage of £3 12s..08. for all males over 21 years of age, and of 1 12s. 6d. for all females over 21, have been acts which have won the approval of all workers and the hostility of some employers.

The business community, how- ever, is benefting enormously from the increase in purchasing power, and wagea, in any caso, are not higher than were paid by decent employers before the

awards тего onforced. Some dairy farmers, for instance, have complained because the Govern- ment has fixed the minimum wages for adult farm labourers at 2 28. 6d. weekly, inclusive of board and lodging.

But a dairy farmer worthy of the name in New Zealand has always paid his man as much as

1

that. The Farmers' Union agreed to the wage.

The dairy farmer, on the success or failure of whose operations New Zealand stands or falls, has been the subject of a great deal of legislation. Exaggerated land values, implying mortgage com mitments impossible to meet in normal years, wern the price New Zealand paid for the boom that began in the war years when butterfat prices soared to 2s. 6d. a pound.

D

URING the slump, when the price fell to ed., 1 was said that 70 per cent. of the formers wero virtually bankrupt, and-Labour'e arst step was to undertake the huge task of restoring land values: ta their proper level by the readjustment of mortgages throughout country...

the

That done, the farmer was given a guaranteed price for hils produce, so that to-day he has both security of tenure and stability of income, From the State's point of view. the scheme has worked satisfac- torlly; inst year there was a deficit of £650,000, but at present market prices are above the guaranteed should be more than balanced. price of 1314, and the account.

It is worth emphasising again that Labour is balancing its bud- gets. Fundamentally, the New Zealander la as canny as the Scot, and it is on the soundness or other- wise of its finances that the Gov- ernment will be judged.

It is the triumph of the New Zealand Labour Government to have demonstrated to "working class" and to "middle class" aliko that their interests are one, and that Socialism pays.

Human nature being what it is. there could be no better basis for the Socialist ideal of brotherhood, and Labour has achieved a sociolo gical as well as a practical triumph. Uniting the classes is the simpleat way of abolishing class distinction, and Labour in New Zealand really has gone a very long way towards the attainment of that ideal

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MARCH

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1988

Tovoravich NYK

#

Adapted From The

Warner Bros. - Film

Chapter IV

"You've been a Chamberlain and so why Lady-in-waiting and

should we not be a Butler and

Maid!"

"But that

Was in

darling-for the Czar!”

a

Pelersburg,

"And this is in Paris-but stu for the Czar!"

MY

darling?" cried Bulated Mikail enthusiastically, as the possi- bility dawned on him, "I believe you are right! I know we could do

"Certainly, my pigeon! Don't you remember me doing the fair hair of Her Imperial. Highness. > fetching her gloves, and

"And I see myself again Mikalt broke in "throwing open the windows of the Imperial Cham-

ber, and announcing, *Majesty, this morning there is snow!"

Tatiana hopped from the bed where she had been dancing and ran to him clapping her small hands

"We were good vants

Bald, "we will be good servants again!"

ecstatic" he

BCK-

But

"Absolutely, my pigeon! what about references?"

"We must provide them at once! Sit down and write!" they did so. They act forth in high spirits the Russian colours about Tationa's neck as a scarf-the sword of Ale- xander III tucked inside Mikall's trouser-leg-the 'want od' and the references safely put away!

was

The landlord tried to waylay them but again they evaded him.

M. et Madame Dupont might well have advertised for a butter and a maid! Their home

In wha commotion-only old Louise the | cook-doing. duty as butler, par- lqurmald and general factofum! Madame needed her hair dressed! Monsieur Charles had lost a shoe! Bells were ringing, buzzing, tele- phones shrilling and doors banging! In short, it was, a mad house!

Monsieur coming out from Uni- der the bed where he had been looking for the shot,

oc, announced hod the dolefully that he

worst headache of his fethinel Madame Fernande threw up her hands.

isn't

one

she cried "it's the trouble Charles of you that's in other! And to-night it's both! We shall never get to M. Chauffeurier-

Dubleff's house for dinner!

At this moment Louise announced the applicants for the positions.

- Tatiana and Mikall advanced a few steps into the room, he doing his best to conceal the sword. "Sir -Madame" he said with stiff bow, to which Tattana added an extreme-

Which

ly

pregable, Good evening."

were your previous em- ployers?"

"His Excellency, General Prince

Ouratie!!

and his wife. said Mikall proudly. "No!" add- ed Tatiana with fine dignity, "Her Imperial Highness, the. Grand Duchess

Tatiana Petrovna... and her

***

can you come to us? are in a great hurry!"

We

we

"We, too . I mean could arrange to start... let us say

to-night!"

Your luggage?"

"It has

cxist, madume

er

ceased to

have the clothes of your They may not

"WC predecessors

BU

We shall be proud to adjust ourselves, madame," murmured Tatiana sweetly,

"There are four of us here My husband and myself and our really

quite

grown-up children, Mademoiselle Helene and Monsieur

Georges!"

TELEPHONE 30291.

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New York via Panama.

+Noto Maru

11th April

..3rd May

South America (West Coast) via Japan, Honolulu.

Hilo, Los Angeles, Mexico & Panama.

Takaoka Maru. (From Kobe) Sat, 23rd April

London, Marseillas, Antwerp & Rotterdam.

Hakusan Maru

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„Sat., 9th April

.Sat., 23rd April ..7th May

Liverpool via Port Said, Beyrouth, Istanbul, Piraeus,

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A..Sat., 9th April 26th April

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OUR

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Sat., 9th April

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22nd April

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BRITISH CROSSWORDS

ACROSS

1 A side line perhaps (8).

4 This is mixed-in 20 across (4). 7 This kind of school would seem to need licking into shape (8). 9 Taking advice, but rather too

hasty (6).

10 A kettle or some greater vessel 13 This nautical official would be

might be doing it (8).

better man without his fourth letter (6).

The questioning finally ended and the deal was consummated. Tatlana

14 A fishy alias (7), was set to arranging Madame's hair, 15 This would ruin Mikail to hunting Monsieur's shoel Georges wonted his tio Helene

course (8).

the act, of

18 Did his human part ever back the rest of him to win, we won- der (7).

28 Notorious suggestion of a na-

tionallalic

27 across perhaps

29 A coin to take note of (4).

(0). 30 Prelude in the Andings (6).

pressed- wanted her

gown hooked! All four wanted the same thing at The same moment!

Then a shrlek

18 What to say to the little beast from Helene: "Fin is lost!"

when you give it drink (6). Madame went into a frenzy! Her 20 A political label (7). darling

Pekinese! He must

be 35 To found! Her life will be shattered! 26 Tinted

do this is straightening (6). with its end perhaps Tatiana must look for the darling! Mikall must look! What does the 27 A 20 across might find this

(8). dinner matter! The lost shoo! What does anything matter! If Fi is not

wordy affair a fetter around found within five minutes butler

his beginning (0) and maid will be fired! Tatiana was almost in tears at the prospect! But

a split second of the deadline in trotted Fin with the chee

In her mouth Delight followed despair! The new servants were marvels! Mikoli offered to telephone to M. Chauf- fourier-Dubloff, of

of the Bank of France that the Duponts would be on hand! They wondered how he knew so great a mon! At last Mon- slour and Madame were off to the dinner! Georges und Helene up- stairs and Tatiana and Mikail In their room. "It Is," sighed Talinna, "Paradise!" From their window they could see the cross of a Russian Church and the bells were ringing. "God be praised," said Mikail, pecially for the bed!"

Loud knocking at their door, dis- closed young Georges with fencing foils, mask and gloves. "I want you to: clean these epees, ho sold cur- tly. "I'm using them to-night and I'm late!" When Helena came down with her guitar later, she was umazed to see Georges and Mikail fencing with terrific gusto!

Later there were cocktaila of Tatiana's mixing in the kitchen- music of Tatianae making on the guitar-wild Russian songs in which all Joined and much talk of a cer- tain Russian night club (not -Not a Bolshevik place whore the

named „comrades", Halled each

Tovarich-but a gathering place of other as the aristberalle refugees the White Russianal The butler and maid might be going the next night possi bly just to look on Georges and Helono ienced at each other know

DOWN

1 Entirely vetoed except for one

of the billards balin (0),

2 Coolness is mostly no light

matter abroad (0). 3 Wherein

many a man has cheerfully risked the stake (8). 5 Does he use vanishing cream on

his hands? (8).

0 A trial Indeed, and not at all

populer (8).

7 The hand that was doubled (4).

It may have to be cleared be- fore the post is reached (6).

11 It has one leg in the middle,

and is not allowed (7).

12 This trouble is middling painful.

(7).

13 Reading shows us a S. Ameri-

can loss (7).

16 Parade (8).

17 The rainbow shows It (8). 18 Part of the passage is 'orcidi

(B).

21 No hot-headed Oriental (8). 23 The man the complaint came.

from? (8).

23 Each end of this opening is final

(0),

bad Italian

24 A little word in

(4).

Saturday's Solution.

}B__8_B__ E MUSOLE DARENES SAUE

NECO SANDAL SANTIAGO TDRS NCL BIONA

MATHEMATICIAN. I {S BMGLUED BOBCALPEL 8 A

TRADE FE_O [0] PUNCTILIOUBL WEEN H_N__N_NE

OGA CATOHING GOVERN I AU§ G) | AMONG SECURIT

8 TANCE ET T

Needed Urgently

MEN'S, WOMEN'S & CHILDREN'S

CLOTHING

Hongkong Benevolent Society

MONDAY THURSDAY

10 am to 12 Noon.

Ice House Stree

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