PHYSICALLY UNFIT

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 133, 1 March 1929, Page 17

PHYSICALLY UNFIT

SCHEME FOR EMPLOYMENT STATE FARM SUGGESTED “That the Government be urged to establish a farm colony as the most effective means of dealing with those of both sexes who are physically unfit to maintain themselves.” The above motion, put.forward by Mrs. J. K.,Preston at the meeting of the Hospital Board yesterday, led to an interesting discussion, during which it was contended that the problem was too large a one to come within the sphere of local body politics. “I am bringing forward the resolution because I am so firmly convinced that, if these unfortunate people could be given a chance to earn the assistance they receive, they would not only materially reduce the cost to the board, but they would be enabled to take positions where they could earn a wage commensurate with their ability,” said Mrs. Preston, m supporting her motion. “I would suggest,” she added, a pronerty of not less than 100 acres, huts _to be built, and quarters for married couples, to be served by a communal kitchen. The men under supervision could do’the work of the kitchen garden, flower garden, fruit growing, tree planting, cropping, poultry, bees, sheep, and cows. 1 contend that where men and women have for long to accept help from the board they soon lose sense of their moral responsibilities, and become wholly and permanently charges on the State, whereas, could they be taught some of the above occupations, they would be adding to the production of the country, and regaining their self-respect, besides fitting themselves to take positions in the country’ employers could apply at the headquarters for helpers. Saving to Board. “I am not advocating high wages, the fact that they are being taught to earn should be almost sufficient— a small allowance and tobacco only, but if their work warranted it, a small wage above the cost of their keep could be paid. At present the cost to the board, according to the last report for ten months, is £23,910, nearly £4OOO above the estimate Surely the time has come to make an effort’to alter this appalling expenditure. I cantend that, be the production ever so small, the cost must be less than at present. The .rules of the home could be made sufficiently elastic to allow of able-bodied unemployr ed to be sent for a while and be given some of the heavier work, also convalescents would derive benefit from good food and care which would enable them to get back to their work sooner than they do under the present method of keeping them in boardinghouses at the expense of the board. “In the near future the board will be faced with the necessity of extending the accommodation of the Ohiro Home. Could not this scheme work in conjunction with that? I suggest that the plan outlined above offers the opportunity to put into operation a,system which will greatly reduce, or I firmly believe wholly eliminate the necessity of boards being saddled with the expense of maintaining year after year those who are incapable, wholly or in part, of maintaining themselves.” Problem Too Big. The Rev. H. Van Staveren said that this was a problem which should be sent to the Prime Minister of England. The proposal was a magnificent one, and if it could be carried out the millennium would not be far off. Mr. F. Castle said it was a question whether there were a sufficient number of physically unfit to justify the establishment of a farm colony. If people were unfit to earn their living they were unfit to work on a farm, whereas unfit persons could be employed in various ways in the cities. It would be a mistake to ask the Government to embark upon a proposal which they themselves could not conscientiously recommend. Mr. C. B. Robinson said that 100 acres would be much too small an area upon which to attempt to carry out such a proposal. Mr. W. Appleton was afraid that Mrs. Preston had tackled too big a problem. Mr. F. Bennett was of opinion that Mrs. Preston deserved to be congratulated upon tackling such a problem. Mr. J". H. Ilelliwell Considered that Mrs. Preston was entitled to be commended more for goodness of heart than hardness of head. It was a national question, and one which the Government would have to face sooner or later. An experiment of a like nature was being carried out in South Africa, but there it was found that the persons who would not work were the stumbling blocks. The colonies in South Africa were of a penal character. If the loafer and waster element could be eliminated, there might be some hope for Mrs. Preston’s proposal. Mrs. Fraser said that she knew of hundreds of unemployed who were neither loafers nor wasters.

The chairman (Mr. C. M. Luke) said that he thought that all they could do would be to ask the Government to take some means to deal with the unemployed question.

On Mrs. Preston’s motion being put, only the mover and seconder voted for it. and it was, therefore, heavily defeated.