UNEMPLOYED PROBLEM

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 66, 15 September 1921, Page 7

UNEMPLOYED PROBLEM

TO THE KDITOK. Sir, —The correspondence which has been carried on in the columns of The Post during the last week, and the appeal of the Civic League for funds to carry on relief works has drawn considerable attention to the unemployment question. As all classes of the community who are in a position to do so have been requested to contribute, we should be satisfied: Firstly, that the unemployment which exists at present warrants this appeal; secondly, that only genuine cases of unemployment will receive attention; and, thirdly, that the providing of work in this manner is the best way of meeting the problem, and that it will not be followed by an appeal for further funds in a few months' time.

The question must be considered from a national point of view. We were informed in ■ Monday's Post of a shortage of suitable farm labourers in the country, while in the same issue it is stated that there are about 500 men who will ,be employed under this scheme. Instead of raising money to provide for work in the city, why cannot the Civic League make arrangements with the farmers to find these men places on farms,, as they are obviously required there? If necessary, the Civic League could advance them money to enable them to go into the country, on a- guarantee that they would work for a certain period. If a worker is unwilling to give the guarantee or to proceed to the country, his case is evidently not. genuine, and, therefore, should not receive attention. Although these men are evidently not immediately suitable for farm work, they could soon learn, especially .as the majority of them are accustomed to heavy work. In a recent supplement ■to The Post, on the occasion of the Manawatu Show, I think, was an article by Mr. W. J. Poison on behalf of the farmers. He urged closer co-operation and support between people in the country and those in the towns. The farmers have a splendid opportunity now of taking the lead in putting this appeal into practice, by placing 'these men on farms, and putting up with some measure of inconvenience until they become accustomed to their new work. It would be of great assistance to the towns to be relieved of their surplus labour in this way.

.2. We have been given an assurance by Mr. Mitchell that only genuine cases will receive attention. The men who were recently employed gorse-grubbihg, etc., on the city reserves, until the Government grant to the City Council was exhausted, were .evidently such cases. It may be of interest to the public to know that one of the gangs of about 30 men frequently did not commence work till between 8.10 and 8.15 o'clock, and finished work at 4.45. A certain amount of "crib time" may be permissible, but surely 25 minutes a day is rather generous. The loss of work done with a gang of this size is evident. Until a man is willing to work to the best of his ability for the full time agreed to be worked, his is no case for unemployment assistance. As those men did not work their full time, they did not need assistance. Is the public being asked to contribute funds to maintain 500 workers just as-unscrupulous as these? Will tii'e workers for whom the funds are being raised give any guarantee as to 'the quality and fidelity of their workmanship ? 3. Unemployment pay has not been a success in England either with the unemployed or with the Government. This is not exactly unemployment pay, but the principle is similar. Will another appeal be made in a few months' time, or will the Government have to grant further funds in a few months' time? If so, these funds should not be provided, and another way should be found of solving the problem. The unemployment pay system has not solved the problem in England, nor is this relief works system likely to solve the problem of any unemployment that may exist in New Zealand. In England it is due to many causes—chiefly depression of trade- owing to increased .costs of production and shortage of capital. New Zealand is at present suffering from trade depression, and unless the problem is solved now, we will have genuine unemployment in a few months' time. Increased wages and decreased individual output is the chief cause of increased costs of production. It is unnecessary to quote the figures which have been compiled recently showing the decreased individual output in the coal mines, and also on the waterfront. It is in the power of the workers to lower the costs of production considerably, without being faced with a reduction in wages, by each man increasing his effort to bring his output up to 1913 standard. An increase in production at lower, coat would benefit everyone. It is therefore evident that the remedy for the unemployment problem lies in.the hands,of the workers themselves. Should funds be created to start relief works for the unemployed when the cause of the unemployment is the actions of the workers themselves? To start relief works is only, to assist them in this policy. When tlie workers have put forward an honest effort in the manner indicated to deal with the problems but have failed to relieve the situation, the time for an appeal for funds for relief works has arrived. In the meantime the country can absorb any surplus of labour in the towns.—l INCREASED PRODUCTION, loth September. [The cnWe news In this Iss.ie accredited to, "The Tlrnea" hiui uppe*rcd in that Journal, but only where expressly atatori is such news the • [_ editorial opinion of "The Times."J