SUBSIDY FOR BUILDING

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 219, 12 June 1933, Page 2

SUBSIDY FOR BUILDING

Relief Scheme Defended ANSWER TO CRITICISM By Telegraph—Press Association. Blenheim, June 11. Important reference to the new building subsidy scheme was made by Air. .1. S. Jessep, deputy-chairman of the Unemployment Board, in replying to criticism levelled at it. In doing so he did not mince matters, but staunchly defended the move as one designed to assist an industry which be asserted had been adversely affected—probably more so than any other single branch of business in the Dominion—by the depression. “Action More than Justified.” Mr. Jessop contended tiiat the action taken by the board was more than justilled by the circumstances. "There is no trade worse off at present than the building industry,’ he said. "It is nearly dead. It is estimated that not 10 per cent.—a liberal estimate would be 20 per cent., but reliable men say 10 per (•ent.—of the mon formerly engaged in the building trade arc in work iu that I rude to-day. Taking it at 20 per eent., we have 80 per cent, of the tradesmen idle. The board, after a lot of thought, decided that from our point of view there was no trade that we could attempt to stimulate and no trade that would relieve the pressure on the unemployment funds more. 1 want to stress that point, and would induce men who have funds to spend to commence spending now. "Some criticism has been levelled at the scheme from the point of view that we are going to put money into the pockets of men who can well afford to put up a building, perhaps a big building.” lie continued. “Well, that is not our point of view. AVe really are asking the assistance of any man who has the money to spend it. now. After all. the labour ou a building, a big building particularly, is n small part of the total expenditure.” Not the Only One.

Mr. Jessep said that the building scheme was not the only one under which the board was subsidising heavyily in order to get men on to useful work. "Under scheme 4b,” he pointed out, “we are asking the assistance of any man of means, and I say quite distinctly that I don't care if he is the wealthiest man or institution in New Zealand; if he will do development work of any description which, under ordinary economic conditions, would not be done, wc will pay 50 per cent, of the cost. That applies to the drainage of lauds, hushfelling, scrub-cutting, and so on. We welcome the num who will pay his 50 per cent. We cau stand up to all crilieism that: comes along. We may be indirectly assisting the man with money, but otherwise he is no: going to do the work. We are, iu fact, very willing to find our 50 per cent., and wc consider it some of the best type of work wc arc doing in New Zealand today.”