FINANCE AND RELIEF WORKS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 231, 26 June 1931, Page 8

FINANCE AND RELIEF WORKS

Like the proverbial bad penny the problem of unemployment is always turning uppermost. It will be the first major issue to

come before Parliament as was definitely intimated in the Speech from the Throne at the opening of the session yesterday. “Increased funds must be placed at the disposal of the Unemployment Board,” to quote the Speech, “and proposals to this end will be submitted for your Urgent consideration.” That the imperative “must” should creep into what is generally a colourless document indicates the emergency nature of the situation but that aspect has already been sufficiently emphasised. What Parliament should ensure is that the increased funds asked for are niade available in such a way that the Board cap get better value for money spent on relief works. There has been much criticism of the No. 5 scheme because, although its operation has cost about £40,000 a week, little of reproductive or permanent value has been obtained in return. This has been one of the most serious charges brought against the Board’s administration yet it now appears that it is not wholly

to blame. Addressing the Returned Soldiers’ Conference, a member of the Board stated that “during the last few months the Board - had had to approach the Finance Minister week by week for its . commitments and under such conditions could not plan very far ahead.”- If that is a true presentation of the case, the public will agree that not much more than makeshifts can be expected from a body that has to live from hand to mouth in this way. Indeed no one could be expected to take the long view and induce others to subscribe to a programme if uncertainty existed as to financial backing from week to week. It will not be enough, therefore, for Parliament to find more money for relief works. It should also see that the provision'is made in such a way that the Unemployment Board will have some assurance as to its resources so that it can set on foot works that will amount to more than filling in time. It should surely not be necessary for the Finance Minister to keep the Board on so short a rein, and it is certainly not proving economical.