UNEMPLOYMENT.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20789, 24 February 1933, Page 15

UNEMPLOYMENT.

THE CHURCH AND THE PROBLEM. RESOLUTIONS OF METHODIST SYNOD. (PKJiSS ASSOCIATION TELEOBAIt.) AUCKLAND, February 23. The relation of the Church to unemployment and the present general economic situation was a matter that engaged the attention of the Methodist Conference to-day. The following resolutions were adopted unanimously:— "This conference expresses deep concern ab the prolonged and desperately urgent problem of unemployment, believing that such conditions are a hindrance to the progress of God's Kingdom on earth. W© believe the eagerness for the material things of life rather than the desiro for the spiritual has helped to precipitato the situation in which a superabundance of good things has been put to wrong uses.- This can only bo rectified by the personal and national application of the principles or' Christ. We accept no suggested solution which will involve the ■ing of self-respect and self-reliance and the removal of the independence of the individual or that tends to make the normal family life impossible. This conference resolves: (i) "We regard as one of the chief difficulties of the problenf of unemployment the fact that the lack of purchasing power in the community has been aggravated by the policy of deflation. We. consider the time has come for a complete overhaul of our present economic system with a view to a just distribution of tho necessities of life. ' (2) "That in view of the wasteful and demoralising nature of much of the work at present provided, this conference recommends the fullest possible extension of the principle of productive employment." (3) "That while appreciating the earnest efforts of the Goverumeut to grapple with this complex problem, this conference suggests that the rates ot payment under the present schemes are inadequate and recommends an increase in the allowances paid to relier workers particularly in view of tho recent adoption of the increased exchange and sales tax." (4) "That as tho present mode ot taxation falls heavily upon the poorer sections of the community, ws suggest to tho Government that if any additional taxation is necessary it should be provided by (a) the taxation ot luxuries, together with such wasteful expenditure as drink, gambling, etc., (b) a steeply graduated income tax.'' i (5) "Wo further suggest consideration of the internal loan interest to be a charge on tho fund created by the unemployment tax. As representatives of the Methodist Church of New Zealand we pledge ourselves to do &n that lies in our power to help the needy, to continue to assist the workless, and to feed the starving, while praying that divine Providence may guide those who may be in authority to wise decisions in their dcliberatons upon this great problem that so closely touches the life and wellboing of the community." It was resolved that a committee ot investigation be sot up in Wellington, that it consult during the year with the district synod secretaries with a view to collaboration with district committees in ascertaining the facts ot the present economic situation, and report through the district synods to the conference. The retirement of the Rev. "W. A. Sinclair from the position of general secretary of the Now Zealand Methodist Foreign Missionary Department was marked by the conference by a luncheon, the presentation of a cheque and warm tributes to his work.

PRINCE'S APPEAL. A NATIONAL EMERGENCY. (fROM OUK OW» CO*«tBFOHMirr.) LONDON, January 10. In a broadcast talk last Friday evening the Prince of Wales renewed Ms earlier appeals for united efforts. by men and women of goodwill to support the activities of the National Council of Social Service oh behalf of unemployed. "In the Great War, which by no moans everybody was agreed on in principle," ho said, "all co-operated to the full, because it was a time of national emergency. That is precisely what we have to deal with now—a national emergency. "The widespread response to my appeal for individual service has been most gratifying. I have made it my business to see for myself exactly what this response to my appeal was doing. "I have' paid special visits both to industrial and rural areas, to Tyneside, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Lancashire, and I have been encouraged not only by the work that is already going on but by the great possibilities of its extension." Speaking of the various schemes which have been put into force, tho Prince said: "I have been able to seo the Obvious satisfaction that the younger generation finds in physical training and the advantage of their being given every opportunity to keep fit by exercise in, a gymnasium or suitable hall and lly outdoor games. "One has onjy to visit any of the buildings which other organisations have made available for this purpose to realise how much physical fitness may do to keep a man's mind alert —to strengthen him for times of hardship and to keep him ready for work when it comes his way. "With the help of those who have either suitable buildings or playing fields it should be possible to arrange facilities for exercise and games wherever there are people out of work who wish to- keep themselves fit by such means. Study and Education. "I have also seen how some men and women aro taking advantage of the opportunity which unemployment gives them for study and further education. "Another important and useful way of helping is to provide whenever possible the opportunity to cultivate an allotment. "And to show you the wonderful spirit which exists and is growing, I can give you instances of places where there were no club buildings or nursery schools or facilities for exercise, where men who are out of work have erected club buildings for themselves, nursery schools for their children, or have made waste land or even slag heaps into playing fields. "Although they are out of work they have added to. the riches of the community they belong to, but this is only possible where the different elements in the local community join hands in the venture. Men with time on their hands may be willing to give service, but others must be ready to equip the men for their work. "Here, as in all that I am discussing, we must work together, employed and unemployed alike, if we are td achieve anything of value. If we do we may succeed not only in levelling »l»g heap*

but the mountains of misunderstanding that too often divide us. Pioneering Work. "Normal employment is, of course, the real need, and we must do all in our power to provide it, but we must join with tho largo number that cannot for the moment bo absorbed in discovering new arid constructive uses for unoccupied time. "Tho causes of unemployment are beyond our individual control, and we may differ in our estimate of them, but it is largely in our power to control the effects of unemployment, and- our aims must be practical and not merely theoretical. "It is Surprising how many of those different activities have brought out new interests and new talents, and, more important still, how new contracts have been made, contracts which in normal times might have seemed very unlikely. "I believe that these will have more than a passing value and that in the attempt to defeat the effects of unemployment we aro pioneering in a field that will yield a rich return of human satisfaction." " That thero are many men "tramping tho country at the present time, and that they are in circumstances of real want, was maintained on Saturday by a member of the Taranaki Hospital Board, who said that he had daily calls from such men coming to New Plymouth from other districts. Many of them, it was stated, were actual physical wrecks, With inadequate clothing, and boots which afforded little protection to their feet, and were obviously in need of bodily nourishment. Somo of the -men had to be sent to the hospital, not merely for sustenance, but for rest and medical treatment. In addition to these cases of need, tho same man stated that every day he received applications for assistance from local residents, whose condition was heart-breaking. Possibly influenced by Dame Sybil Thorndike's recent criticism of "those stupid collars," a business man attended Monday's meeting of the Auckland Manufacturers' Association without any neckwear. The edges of the front of his shirt were folded inward to form a v-neck. The man, who was wearing an unusually light suit without a waistcoat, removed Ms coat during the meeting,

On© farmer in the Ohura district is not afraid of liis sheep being covered villi bidi-bidi. He explained the oilier day that at one time he cleaned his place of the bidi-bidi bo that tho price of his sheep would not be affected. But he found that his clean sheep brought less in the Bales than hi 3 neighbours', all covered with bidibidi. One of the buyers explained. He said that he was always suspicious of clean sheep in the Ohura, but when tney were covered with bidi-bidi ho felt sure that they came from the high hills and were therefore strong and hardjt

Great work is being done in the development of native lands under the Hon. Sir Apirana Ogata's scheme oa the East Coast, according to a motorist who has been touring through the Bay of Plenty district. He said that when he saw a green patch of pasture in the distance and whenever ho noticed a good seven or eight wire fence in a first-class state of repair he knew he was in Maori country. Much of the work was being done by the grouping ' of families, many of the groups numbering betweta 30 ui 30 parsons.

Jsl concluding ,bia summing irfk&.'fe -y motor oplUwoui case jfot a&mages t £*%-' \ jury, which waßhtstod Stt theWew j*!*.*.! l mouth Supreme Court op Justice Ostler, when *ealtyg amount claimed' and tW the jury to assess these with ness, said: "I can beat the words of »M4m : '£Stoy£E your moderation -be- lm?ita < *fslffi3£§ men. ' " ■ ' '- ' ," v >v .;' fOJJrfflj One ycarti recuse «#«ot*l'li«itt!HS don's homes ffould W&'i&tijmNSaßifl acres 1# a dep#'<tf Sj^^pHHH