RELIEF PROBLEMS

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 206, 27 May 1932, Page 8

RELIEF PROBLEMS

Unemployment Board Methods z FREE CRITICISM In the course of his lengthy address to the general Citizens’ Unemployment Committee on Wednesday evening, the chairman of the executive, Mr. J. I. Goldsmith, who (with the rest of the committee) has tendered his resignation, freely commented on what he considered to be weaknesses in the administration of the Government Unemployment Board, weaknesses which he contended could have been \ overcome had the representations of the Citizens’ Committee been given due consideration. During the course of his statement Mr. Goldsmith said: — “Recognising as I do the difficulties confronting the Unemployment Board when surveying their finances, nevertheiess I am firmly of the opinion that a different method of allocating the money to the main centres should be introduced. The all-important question as to whether our weekly allocation would be sufficient arose almost without exception every week ;for. several months past. Time and again we had to consider our position, , and there were occasions when we knew that only bad weather or sickness among the men would keep, our wages bill within the limits permitted by the board. To avoid causing hardship and consequent dissension it became necessary for the committee to approach the Minister of Employment and urge him to grant us sufficient money to tide us over a difficult period. Monthly Allocations. “To my mind a different system will have to be introduced,” continued Mr. Goldsmith. “Varying conditions make it impossible to forecast accurately how much money will be required in’ any one week. It would simplify matters considerably if the board would make a monthly allocation instead of weekly as is done now. If there should be a surplus in one or _ two weeks, that amount could be kept in reserve against a possible over-expendi-ture in another week. When it is remembered that there are 4000 men employed every week it is not difficult to imagine the difficulties encountered in arriving at the number of men that may or may not report for work. The certifying officer,. Mr. P. H. Kinsman, and I have more than once debated the advisability of passing every man through the bureau each week, but we abandoned the idea as likely, to prove irritating to the men and tending to disorganise the city relief works. The monthly Allocation, I think, offers a simple solution to the matter. / . Exemption From Camps. “I feel keenly on the matter of exemption from camps for single men. The board adopted an arbitrary attitude in the beginning and said that only men who produced a medical certificate of unfitness-should be exempt. An anomalous situation soon arose. Men who were genuinely unfit were rightly granted certificates. lam not quarrelling with that, but when I saw men whose physical condition had been lowered through excessive drinking being granted exemption on medical grounds, while decent, clean-living men, whose sole anxiety .was to support their aged parents, or widowed mothers, or their younger brothers and sisters, were kept waiting week after week for a decision, my indignation knew no bounds. . ~ . “The certifying officer frankly declined to bring applications for exemption before the committee, as he had instructions from the board to exercise his own judgment in the matter. Some of the numerous cases which came before me unofficially were heart-break-ing, and I feel now that I neglected my duty in not having made public the whole wretched business earlier than I did. No board, no Government, could be so lacking in sympathy and understanding as to ordertthcse decent young citizens into camps while their families were left to the Charitable Aid Board. I consider that medical referees shouh, be appointed, and all men who would benefit by camp life and who have no family responsibilities should be weeded out. Then those men who have family ties could be reinstated on their jobs. Out of Pocket Expenses. ‘•Throughout the whole of its existence the committee has never received a single penny to cover out-of-pocket expenses. It is true that most items could be charged to the Labour Department, but a grant, no matter how small, would have been beneficial' and helpful. I wish to state that lam not complaining about any expenditure I personally incurred as I realise that a man caunot undertake public duties without spending his own money. An allocation for committee purposes, however, would have enabled us to do many little things we would have liked to do. Very often suitable advertisements’ in the Press would have saved considerable trouble, bitt having no funds we could not move. Not all members’ correspondence could go through official channels, as often personal replies were asked for. Some of the members of the committee, including myself, have probably spent a considerable sum in stationery and stamps in that direction... Visits to the jobs were frequently made, often at the request of the men, to investigate a grievance, and private ears had to be used. This is a small matter, but worth mentioning to show the difficulties under which the ’committee laboured. Women’s Unemployment Committee.

•‘While I am speaking about expenses it may be worth while to direct attention to the existence of the Women’s Unemployment Committee. This committee was set up several months ago, and has not. so far as I am aware, yet submitted a report on its work. I do not. know what honorarium they are receiving, but I have been informed that it is in the nature of £2/2/- a day in addition to travelling expenses. The last time I heard of them they were investigating unemployment among women in Invercargill. The absolute prohibition placed on my committee in regard to legitimate expenses and the open-handed treatment in respect to the Women’s Committee afford an interesting contrast. Of course the board may not be responsible for the expense of having a committee of women roaming round: the Dominion, but surely the Government cannot justify its action in prolonging the existence of a committee investigating’a subject when the whole question of women’s unemployment is crying aloud for urgent practical consideration and alleviation in some form.”