Relief Conditions

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 119, 13 February 1935, Page 11

Relief Conditions

Sir, —Regarding the statement of the Minister of Employment to the effect that I didn't “explore the possibilities of finding private employment,” if the statements of men who are looking for such employment are of any value, then the Minister exaggerates its amount. During my investigations I sat listening to men, who didn’t know me from Adam, and heard them discussing the places they had been to, the jobs they had sought yesterday and the day before, and the weeks and months before.

They had no incentive to lie to one another. They claimed to have spent whole days going from one possibility to the next, without success. I heard that story everywhere. And I believe them. I believe the woman who said her husband had gone almost every day he was free, for the last three years, looking for work in city or suburbs. Altogether, he has earned in this way something less than 15/-. Once he helped to move furniture, once he got four hours on the wharf, and once he cut a lawn. I believe my friend Jack, a skilled tradesman, who tells me that during the last six months he has written an average of 100 applications for work each month, enclosing very good testimonials each time, lie says: “The figure would probably be nearer 900, but you’d think I was a liar.” He is still writing applications. Now, as to those Public Works vacancies. I met a young fellow and his mate, who for a very good reason were desperate to get away from Wellington. Because of the impossibility of living on 10/- a week (so they said) they had both stolen and been in gaol, and they were determined not to get into trouble again. The Minister must take my word for it, for I was in close touch with them throughout this business, that those two boys moved heaven and earth to get a job, so that they might keep straight. They were refused sustenance, and were offered an unemployment camp, but they had been bitten once, they said. They tramped from one Government office to another for nearly two weeks. One of them was known by and obtained excellent references from some Government official or other, and after a good deal of effort they were notified, that they would be put on the construction work at the Milford track. But when they went to inquire about getting tlieri they were told they must pay their own fares and provide their own gear. They tried to borrow the money. Some department or other was then found to be willing to pay the fares provided a guarantee was secured. But who would stand to two friendless boys, just out of prison? They tramped from one official to another, seeking help in every possible quarter, and tie time drew near when they must be on the job or lose the opportunity. This was about three weeks after the first visit to the Unemployment Bureau. The guarantee was found; I don’t know how. And I’m sorry to be so vague about the details. Unfortunately the man who interested himself in them and knows the details is absent from Wellington on a long business trip. He will be approached if necessary to substantiate these statements, and probably add some harrowing details! But here are two of the 500 “vacancies on Public Works jobs,” and that is the way they were filled. Only the determination of two young men refusing to take no for an answer led to those two vacancies being filled at all. The method certainly eliminates the unfit. Three weeks of refusals, and with no money, would break the spirit of most of us, possibly even including that of the Minister of Employment. To-day there are no such vacancies. To-day, the day of publication of the Minister’s statement, I asked a friend of mine to offer himself for a Public Works job. He did so, and was told there was nothing, but to ask again in a. fortnight. Just one more point, and we can dispose of the Minister’s “defence.” He has drawn attention to the refusal of men to work at their regular trades or occupations, as relief work plus charitable aid is more acceptable than a regular job. If the wages offered are award rates, this would point tn the faet that former tradeanieiUhave slipped into a state of apathy and laziness, preferring rather penury and idleness to earning an adequate wage by self-respecting labour. Now the whole point of the unemployment situation is that just this thing is actually happening. Charity and relief together are destroying initiative and independence. Character is being rapidly undermined. This thing is going on to an alarming extent, and on a disastrous scale. And the Minister’s statement is one more argument that a system of society which necessitates “relief,” encourages idleness and depraves character should not be bolstered up with charity, doles and financial jugglery. Any social system which turns self-respecting tradesmen into wasters has got to go, and quickly, too. —I am, etc. D. M. MARTIN. Miramar. February 8.