THE UNEMPLOYED

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21647, 4 December 1935, Page 17

THE UNEMPLOYED

TO THB SDJTOS OT TBJS PRJSSB. Sir,—l would draw the attention of . the people ot Christehurch to the presi ent' position of theunemployed and how the result of the election should improvei their position. . One could say that the intelligent section of the community recognises that a, weekly payment, according to the 1030 Susten- ; ante Act, should be paid to all unemployed men and women without apy ; corresponding wt>rk for same. They recognise that unemployment has come ito stay. 'The scientific development ■ of machinery has made & possible for tall countries to dispense with a large I section of the working population in ; the production of those commodities i that are deemed necessary for the existence of a nation. Scientists tell I us . that at this stage of machine development a third of the present working population of the United States "could produce, in accordance with the present working rate, enough to sup- ■ ply the wants of the rest of the wfirld. ; We know that the question of an employed man being better qualified for : the job than the unemployed man does not arise to-day. Among the unemployed section of workers we find men who have character and capabilities which would enable them to fit into any job, skilled trade, clerical, administrative, and manual. Therefore, knowing full well that unemployment has come to stay and that the necessary work available will not absorb every man In the country; knowing full well that many men in employment begrudge the unemployed si decent living standard, I suggest that the new Labour Government ration the whole of the work which is under •Government control. Finally, I-would remind'the employed section of the following: A lowly paid unemployed army means wage cuts for the employed section, a reduced living standard. A decently paid unemployed section means an improved living standard for the employed worker. The business man _ is intelligent enough to know without my trying to tell him that an improvement in the living standard of the employed and unemployed will mean improvement for him. This is the reason why the Christchurch business men have repeatedly suported the just demands of the unemployed worker. It only needs the employed worker to think along rational, intelligent lines and cur new Labour Government will be able to put its'programme into effect, —Yours, etc., , DAD. December 3. 1935.