IN THE PUBLIC MIND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 117, 20 May 1931, Page 6

IN THE PUBLIC MIND.

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF. THE PERSONAL BUDGET. (To the Editor.) One of the important factors of the unemployment question 10 escape, comment so far in the "Star'' is the balancing of the personal budget. I think it would be a good plan to obtain and disseminate any information-of practical value from "Auckland Star" readers cf experience in living within the limited income. Such information would be useful to "''thousands. A single man (assumed that lie "baches") receives for his labour under the unemployed insurance scheme 9/ per day for two days per week (total 18/) for three weeks per month (total 54/); his total income, therefore is at the rate of 1/11 1-7 per day. A married man without family (asscmed that he flats) receives 12/0 per day for three days per week (total 37/0) for three weeks per month (total £5 12/6); his total income, therefore, is at the rate of 4/0 3-14 per day; and that is to say 2/0 3-28 each per head for himself and his wife. A married man with a family (h e may shelter in a house) receives 12/G per day for four days per week (total 50/) for three weeks per month (total £7 10/); his income is at the rate of 5/4 2-7 per day, say, 2/ each per head for himself and his wife, and 1/4 2-7 per day for all the children to scramble for the, number of children being irregular. The foregoing calculations are based on 28 days per month. In addition, we must subtract Id per day from .the above figures, beni" the cost of unemployment insurance levy Payable. Ihe problem to be solved is how to honestly live within income, providing food firing, shelter, clothing and guard against contingencies at 1/10 or 1/11 per head per adult per day, heaven, of course, helping the children. I refrain from seeking the State's advice, for I much doubt if it could balance the Budget under an income of 15/ per day per head, using its Great War experience in providing as a criterion. POD ARGUS. ° THE PRICE OF MILK. For our children there is no equal to milk as a food, therefore let us combine to raise the price. It is reported that "the producer receives 7d per gallon for milk, which was even less than the exceptionally low price received for butterfat." Now lib of butterfat is equal to 2| gallons of 4 per cent test milk (and most milk delivered is under that test), so the producer receives 1/5 per lb for butterfat, while farmers who have to separate, etc., and supply a factory receive only lOd; onefifth is 70 per cent more than that—and farmers who deliver their own milk at 1/8 per gallon receive 4/2 per lb for butterfat. Winter milk in Wellington, I believe, is 7d per quart. Auckland is much more favoured by reason of its climate and adjoining rich dairying land, to produce cheaper milk. Mr. A. C. Trousdaie says he would like to make it clear that the consumer would have nothing to' fear from the board and that the price of milk at any time would not be allowed to exceed that paid in Wellington, which can only mean he wants to be able to compel the working man to pay more for his mil,k. If it had not been for the high profits obtained in the milk business it would not have attracted so many into it, and so resulted in the working man ibeing able to get his milk at 5d per quart, which is quite enough for him these times: So the present competition is making those who have had such a profitable time scheme how they may still continue to do so at the expense of the public, when we are so hard pressed to make ends meet. PRO BONO PUBLICO. FILM CENSORSHIP. When I read "Old Operator's" letter I rubbed my eyes to see if I was awake. He informs me that the language spoken of was in an English picture. For his own edification I will inform him it was not. No doubt you found it expedient not to publish the name of the film I quoted, which, I may say, has not been the only one, but that one in particular was classified as disgusting by some of my own friends who are hardened men. "Old Operator" brings forward the same weak excuse that we go to the cinema to look for the indecent episodes. Once again I should like to inform him that I go to the cinema (like thousands of others) to seek an hour or two of amusement and entertainment, but when one sees this low type of suggestive films forced upon us one can only leave the theatre in disgust. Consequently I go very much less frequently than I should. If the posters are all that your correspondent claims them to be, how is it that it has been found necessary to ban some in the interest of public morals? The same outcry against demoralising films has been voiced in Italy and other countries, and if your correspondent is unashamed of some of the films which are exhibited his conscience must be as warped as the films in question. BROADMINDED. COAL FROM NEWCASTLE. In the "Star" of May 15 the Hon. W. A Veitch is reported as stating: "A sufficiency of coal suitable for necessary storage is not forthcoming from New Zealand mines, etc. Anyone reading the above and being conversant with the facts must wonder whether it is gross ignorance or sheer audacity which brought forth such a statement. It is well-known fact that millions of tons of coal on the West Coast of the South Island is equal in quality and hardness and will keep in storage as long as any coal in the Southern Hemisphere. Neither is it due to any action on the part of the coal miners that coal is n0 being produced in that district. For many months the miners have been working fr°® two to three days per week, while two hundre coal miners in the South Island have done little or no work at all this year owing to a lack of orders. So long has this condition prevailed that to-day scores of them Wi' their families are on or below the bread line, and miners who are working are levying themselves to find a little sustenance for these people, yet in face of this and the Governmen attention being drawn to this some weeks ago we find a Government Department sending orders to Australia for coal and allowing thei own citizens to starve. The Government has spent thousands in dewatering a mine * Hikurangi, and one would naturally expec them to try and get a return for this ou^ but the miners there are st.il! working s . , time, and instead of assisting them wi orders so that the taxpayers could get a h relief for the money expended these orders are sent out of the country. GEO. BOWEN. PROBLEMS OF RELIEF. As a single man employed on relief I want to say a few words. I get 18/ wee .> for which I pay one .'hilling travelling eX P^J 1 How can any decent man exist on 9/ shi _i o a week after paying 8/ for a room? person is found sleeping out lie is claas a rogue and a vagabond. It is US'eless make laws when a man is compelled to re them to exist. If I have to exist on / weekly why cannot M.P.'s live on a P° u ' a day if they have their country'si in r » 4 at heart? COUNTS? JgS 1 *