UNEMPLOYMENT

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LX, Issue 11134, 8 June 1933, Page 3

UNEMPLOYMENT

kkli f.f assistance. Aii important distinction "as made by the Minister of Employment in repl'ving: to a deputation representing Christchurch unemployed. Mr Hamilton said the Unemployment ■Board “did not claim to make adequate allowance, but gave pretty good relief assistance.” In other words, it was not right or reasonable to look to the Board for a living wage. The Board’s aim was alle y ifl “ lion, not complete provision. Citizens have only to consider what would be the result of paying a full living wage, if that were financially possible, to grasp the common sense of the Board’s policy. On the other hand, men who have been unable to obtain regular employment over a period begin to look upon the Board as they would upon a private employer. They even form unions;, and federations of unions, and then proceed to hold district and national conferences. They forget that they are not dealing with a business or an industry which they may by united pressure force to yield a larger share of the proceeds, rheie * a point, too. that the Board and the public may forget. Men out of work for short periods may scrape along on relief payment, but, as the week* lengthen into months, the inadequacy of these for all hut immediate necessities becomes patent. | The Board might consider whether special conditions can he devised to meet the needs of those unemployed ' for long periods.