UNEMPLOYMENT.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20103, 5 December 1930, Page 19

UNEMPLOYMENT.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. ' 1R unemployment problem is gradually becoming worse, and with isastrous prices for primary produce to come, it will become very serious. T 6 > a armer hard hit by low prices, . had to carry on with two hands ss his year, and if things go on as icy are, will have to do with less in u lire. This sort of thing is general amongst the farming community, and 3 .V ? imd to n,ak ? itself felt iu the ci iea. x have given a great deal of louglit about the way to solve the unemployment problem, and it seems to me to bo a very difficult matter to cope ■with, and to find work for all. Seeing that the Government and local bodies are spending huge sums on relief work which is unproductive, I am making a suggestion, which I think would not only find men with work, but they would be doing a national and productive work to the betterment of Now Zealand for years to come. To meot low prices it is necessary for farmers to produce more; but with their incomes already more than spent in carrying on, they are unable to put in hand extra work for improving their position. I suggest that those in charge of the unemployment problem should place men with the farmers on condition that the farmer finds sleeping quarters and food, the Government and local bodies to pay the men. I feel quite sure that many men would be willing to accept 30s or 40s per week for such work, and that many farmers would place .several men on their farms clearing scrub, gorse, cutting fences, draining, and a host of other jobs now neglected. It would bo necessary, of course, to see that such labour did not displace those men at present engaged, and that they would be put on to work where they would not compete with harvesters, shearers, and the like. This is a great opportunity to get our young men into the countrv.

It seems a shame at the present time to spend large sums of money on unproductive work. My suggestion may seem a good thing for the farmer; but the sooner he grows more wool and butter, etc., to increase our exports the better for everyone. — Yours, etc., .FARMER. December 4th, 3 930. P.S. —I may state that although I could put on threa or four men T would be unable to lodge them, so my scheme would be of no benefit to myself. TO TUE F.D3TOS OF THE PRESS. Sir. —Might 1 be permitted to make a few remarks concerning a possible telief to the present unemployment. It 13 to be wondered why the Government, when passing the Unemployment Kill, did not make certain provisions with regard to Government superannuation. There is a considerable number of persons whose superannuation permits a comfortablo existence, holding down good positions, while qualified persons are out of employment, and walking the streets looking for a crust. The Government could have considerably relieved unemployment by forbidding all superannuated persons, whose superannuation warrants an existence from supplementing their incomes by other work. Furthermore. the Government should have considered barring those women who are ill employment and receiving good salaries while their husbands are earning good remunerations. The Government should stop it when the present position is looking so serious. I know of a caBO where a man is drawing a salary of & 5 per week, while his wife is in a good position and drawing SL\ 10s per week. In. this ease £9 10s is going into the home where there are no dependents. This is only one case. How many others are there doing the same thing? Some are reaping a harvest while other poor unfortunates have nothing to reap. The Government makes all sorts of promises with regard to unemployment, but overlooks some important remedies, such as I have mentioned hereabove. The question of graduating the unemployment insurance levies was brought up in the House when the Unemplovment Bill was under discussion, but those in favour of it were outvoted. Is it not in South Australia that there is a graduated unemployment levy of o per cent, of earnings? This percentage might seem rather unreasonable to the majority, but the graduated scale is a fair one. Why should the high-paid men of the Dominion pay the same levy as the casual worker with 'several dependents? It is absolutely unjust. 1 understand that the registrations number approximately 600,000, which, at 30s per annum, would produce £ 900,000, and with Government subsidy of &1 for £1 would give £1,800,000 annually. Could not this amount have been realised by making income tax payable from £2OO per annum and upwards, and by increasing the Id postage rate to 2d? A condition of the Unemployment Bill that an employer -will be fined £2O if that employer has in his employ one who has not paid up his levy will induce unemployment in some caaes. —Yours, A CASUAL WORKER. December 4th, 3 930.