UNEMPLOYMENT.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20757, 18 January 1933, Page 13

UNEMPLOYMENT.

j ALLEGED INADEQUATE ! RELIEF. i __._ ! HOSPITAL BOARD MEMBER RESIGNS. j (r-RSSK association tbusgram ) | WESTPOET, January 17. Mrs Foreman, daughter of Mr 11. E. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, and a member of the Bullcr Hospital Board, tendered her resignation this evening stating: "After most careful consideration I have decided to resign my membership of the Bullcr Hospital Board. I am taking this course as a protest against the refusal of the Government to make adequate provision for the families of the unemployed, and also as a protest against the Government's refusal to permit hospital boards to afford relief in cases of distress arising out of unemployment. "When the hospital subsidies were cut down the Government declared that the relief hitherto given by hospital boards in cases of distress caused by unemployment would now be provided by the Unemployment Board, but that undertaking has been consistently and flagrantly dishonoured as well aa the promise that no one would be left in want. Sufficient allocations have never yet been made available to safeguard tho average family against actual want, and the hospital boards are debarred from logally rendering assistance which many of thorn would willingly give to the limit of their aviliablo funds, consequently numerous eases of extreme distress go unrelieved. "I am not willing to remain any longer in a position where, along with all other members of tho Board, I am callod upon to listen to talcs of actual want which I know to be true and which I am prevented from assisting. In resigning I. am hoping that my action in somo small measure will direct attention to what is a grave public scandal, compulsory and unrelieved want and hunger of women and children in the midst of plenty, a record of suffering that is wholly unnecessary." Mrs Foreman concluding said, "To the local electors who gave mo such an overwhelming expression of confidenco two yearn ago I would say that I tako this extrcmo course with tho deepest regret and only because of my conviction that in this way I may possibly do more ultimately to secure a measure of relief for the more distressful cases among tho families of the unemployed than I could hope to do by remaining on the Board."? SOLUTION OF PROBLEM. RELIEF WORKERS' ASSOCIATION'S SUGGESTIONS. Comprehensiveness is an outstanding feature of the programme that the Canterbury Belief Workers' Association intends submitting to Canterbury members of Parliament at a meting to be held this afternoon, covering.the Association's suggestions of the moans and measures that should bo adopted to solve the problem of unemployment. In place of the 'Unemployment Board a permanent Employment Commission should bo set up. It should advise the Government regarding the development of Crown lands, the organisation of gold prospecting gangs, and tho undertaking bv the 'Government of construction works in respect of roads, railways, and diainage. The Commission also should investigate the question of the development of certain secondary industries. To increase the purchasing power of the community the wage-cuts should be restored, the working day should bo reduced to seven hours, and the working week to Ave days. An increase in the currency is also advocated"Government's Policy Must Fail." The statement describing the Relief Workers' Association's programme asserts that tho Government's present policy in respect of unemployment must fail for four reasons: — (1) At best it can do no more than provide a semi-starvation wage for tho workers who are emplpyod. (2) There is no plan or policy by which the unemployed can be found work in tho normal avenues of production and distribution. (3) No policy or plan has been suggested by which purchasing power or ourreney can be increased. (4) The policy of taxing the workers in employment to maintain workers who are unemployed lowers the standard of life of tho productive workers and will result in the maintenance by the employed workers of those workers who are unemployed on the lowest possible standard of living for both employed and unemployed. Tho payment of *'dole" wages, it is further eontouded, will strangle the productive power of the people, and in tho near future will dry up the sources of taxation. There is weeded first an increase in currency, and it appears that this cannot bo obtained whilo the control of currency is in tho hands of private trading banks. Treasury notes to the value of £15,000,000 should he issued by tho Government and should bo fully redeemed in Ave year* by tho unemployment tax. There should bo established a central bank with complete control of currency and notes issued by tho Government. The country's internal credit and funds should be used for developmental work, and no further loans for this purpose should be raised oversea^. Employment Commission. Tho portion of the statement devoted to the proposed permanent Employment Commission suggests that the Commisnion should be representative of farmers', workors', and employers' organisations. It should advise and assist tho Government on the question of land development, the development of secondary industries, and. in general, on tho methods by which profitable and continuous work can be found for the unemployed. As to secondary industrios v it i s assertefi that the 'developin en t of the following would emolov a large number of workers: Textiles, coal, cement, road construction, engineering and implement making, timber, the caj* Jung of products produced in New Zealand, flishing, and leather making. PROVISION OF TOOLS. RESERVE FUND SUGGESTED. Creation of a reserve tund to provide picks, shovels, and grubbers tor the unemployed was suggested to a meeting of the Committee of the Citir.Mis' Relief Association last evening by Mr J. W. Crampton, who applied bis remarks to a letter received from the Citizens' Unemployment Committee on the subject. The meeting decided that as the Association's articles of association did not provido for such an s action the Committee had no course but to refer

the matter back to the Unemployment Committee. Work for More Men. Mr Gramptou said that it had been ivniarked frequently that the lad; of picks and shovels ou the pert of putli'.' bodies had been the cau.se of many men not being able to secure worfc. In many instances between £OO imd 3CO men could have been employed had tho tools been available. At present no work of any national importance was being done, but employment of som© kind had to be found for the men. It was not, perhaps, the duty of the Relief Association to supply Hie articles, but they were just as important to the men as food and clothing. However, If it was left to the local bodies it would never bo done. "We can employ 200 or 300 more men u week if we have the gear," said Mr Crampton. "I am sure there would be a 'ready responso from the public in cash and in tools, and not all second-hand 1 A man can often secure a day's work here and there if'he has the necessary gear, as welJ as work with local bodies." It the Commit tea could only deul with it. lie added, the matter could be referred back to the Unemployment Committee.