Unemployed Workers

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 162, 5 April 1938, Page 13

Unemployed Workers

Sir, —In your issue of April 2 there appears a letter on the above matter, signed by “Tikokino,” in which your correspondent trots out the old fallacy that men receiving full wages are still to be classified as unemployed. The obvious contradiction in this assertion is clear to everyone, especially those who are in receipt of full wages for full employment. How can. your correspondent term a man “unemployed” who is in receipt of full wages and full employment? Your correspondent apparently objects to full wages being paid from - unemployment funds to men doing essential work. J-he National Government also objected to this common-sense Ox payment for service. _ Under the previous Government thousands of men were employed performing unessential work for which they received payment of no value to themselves or their families, and they were consequently forced to seek relief from charitable organisations and hospital boards. No doubt “Tikokino,” with his National Party friends, would like to see a return to those tragic days, and still wants to term full-paid workers ‘unemployed for the purpose of attacking their conditions under that category. In September, 1933, there were <9,4m> registered unemployed (not including women), and these people were subject to the vile conditions already mentioned, although at one time the wage tax was 1/in the pound. , , . , ~ The present Government, by legislative action backed up by the opinion of the majority of the people, has succeeded m restoring a large number of these unemployed workers back to their normal occupations and placing the remainder on work of a necessary nature, at which they are "able to earn reasonable wages and enjoy reasonable conditions. “Tikokino” finds fault in this splendid illustration of statesmanship. He is entitled to his opinion, but don t let him forget that every able-bodied person anxious and willing to work is entitled to a fair share of the national income. This the Government has done, to the immeasurable relief of those directly affected, and to the gratification of all fairminded citizens.—l am, etc., P. Wellington, April 4.