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WAGES BOARDS CON
DEMNED.
Address by Mr. T. R. Ashworth.
Tito problem of unemployment was dis
cussed in an addi-oss before tlie Citizens'
Educational- Fellowship yesterday evening
te Vl> '-T- R- -Aslnvortli,- president 'of t,lio
rlan h-nipioyers' , Federation .
Characterising unemployment ns "a
disease of civilisation," Mr.. Ashworth
finirl vf. ivna n nmr.4- "l
» juubk Luiujjic.v prouicni, ana
generally could not be attributed lo nuv
ono cause. It was ultimately the result
ot- failure to adjust tlio supply of lubor
to the demand. Ho did not agree that
tlie so-cnUed v.-oiid-wido business cycle
from, boom" to deprebaiou wns -tile prin
cipal cause of unemployment in Aus
tralia,. We were not so much affected
by external conditions as by our seasons
and by overseas loans. To counteract
the evil effects of the ever-increasing
substitution of an artificial rate of wages,
the. tariff had. been increased to 'what
was, in his. opinion, ruinous heights. The
Federal Government would not do much
Sod yptn it put an end to the stupidity
of fixing wages on'- a cost of living basis.
The industrial courts and wages boards
could- increase, nominal wages, but they
could not increase productivity, and con-
sequcntlsr could not increase real wages.
Until this barrier between workers and
employment was removed there would be
no permanent improvement in the indus
try and finance of the country.
Other Points of View.
Mr. Gates, M.A., of tho rJ 'own ami I
Country Union, and Mr. M. Blackburn,
M.L.A., both advanced theories and facts
to account foi- uuemploymcnt. Mr. Gates
blamed' such divcrso things, ns tariffs, the
Navigation. Act, the Arbitration Court.
He advocated the- abolition of 'all these
things, 'wliich' lie said woijid cure our
greatest socinl evil. .
Mr: Blnckburn stated that unemploy
ment was a necessary part of tlio social
structure as at present, constituted, A
certain number of people must lie unem
ployed while tlie incentive to work was
fear. He advocated lintionnl iinempioy-
ilicnt insurance ns a partial solution of
the problem. Our intolerable loan posi
tion had arisen through Nationalist Go
vernments endeavoring to give the people
n-1' Labor 'programme without imposing
Labor's taxation programme.
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