RELIEF WORKERS AND THEIR PAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 166, 16 July 1931, Page 6

RELIEF WORKERS AND THEIR PAY.

I do not know who "M.8.5." and "J.C." are. Their facts are totally misleading. A relief, worker with three children gets four days' work instead of three. However, the majority have one or two children under sixteen, and they get three days' three weeks out of four. In every case I have come across food comes first, in four weeks the majority of-relief workers get £5 12/6, a weekly average of £1 7/Gi, with levy. paid. Where does "M.8.5." get" his £1 a week for the landlord, 10/ per week for his own food and 7/6 for ,his wife's and children's food? Four into two will not go. No, food comes first, or should, clothes and fuel a bad second,-and rent or interest is missing altogether. The landlord or mortgagee are almost as much entitled to be paid as is the grocer, the butcher and the milkman.- This cannot go on. It is imperative that somehow or other the unemployed family man.-, should get four days' work each week at 12/6 as a minimum,' the fourth day's pay.to.'be compulsorily earmarked for the landlord or mortgagee,, who must be compelled for the time being to accept that in settlement. Whilst writing, let me continue. Our Prime Minister- has issued an appeal to reduce interest one-half per cent. How utterly ridiculous! If he would be "strong let him compulsorily lower, all internal interest to three per cent. External interest is another matter, but should be attended to by the Anglo-Saxon races on the same lines. Then, with conscription of idle money at two per cent —but such a view would dazzle us. . RIDLEY H. COLEMAN.