THE UNEMPLOYED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 84, 19 January 1928, Page 6

THE UNEMPLOYED.

POSITION AT WANGANUI. (Per Press Association.) WANGA UNI, January 18. During an animated discussion on the unemployment at the Wanganui Hospital Board meeting to-day, Mr William Ritchie, a well-known farmer, said that there were a few genuine cases, but the way they were issuing charity was “pure encouragement to damned loafers. There is,” lie said, “plenty of work in the country. Excuse me swearing, but that’s what a lot of them are.” “The, public are encouraging men to I loaf by’subscribing to relief funds,” he j added. “Where the money goes God only knows. The outlook for next winter is worse. People should be encouraged to have self-reliance. I worked for less money than they get to-day, and I never begged a. meal in my life I’ve always worked for my tucker.” The Mayor, Mr Rogers, said be objected to the term “damned loafers,” and the kindest thing he could wish Mr Ritchie was that lie had a family of five children and had to go looking for work day by day.