PROBLEM OF UNEMPLOYMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 80, 6 April 1926, Page 14

PROBLEM OF UNEMPLOYMENT.

(To tie Editor.) Sir, —The problem of unemployment coma be largely solved by tue proper use of Government owned vacant and non-producing land. Such land should be leased to the unemployed when they have been taught small holding gardening and fanning at Government experimental instruction farms. ■ Such small holdings should be of no less than eight to ten acres and of not less quality than medium land. A cheap house should be leased with the land, built similarly to the steel houses in Britain.. Both land and house would be charged at a, fair rental. A sum of money would need to be loaned the leaseholders to cover, expenses until the returns of production from the land and stock enable the leaseholder to provide from his land and stock the necessities and expenses of his house. The money lent would be at a percentage to cover costs. Any man should be able to live comfortably and make a living under these conditions, as he could grow a big part of his necessities in his own garden. The scheme should be a success from every Christian point of view, saving the unemployed poor from - their poverty and misery. The scheme would also create more employment with the increased spending power which the leaseholders would have. Workers have the power of the vote, and by sensible ideas and leaders could improve their lives to a Christian level, which they have certainly not done up to the am, etc.,'

F. W.• VARLEY.