HELPING THE WORKLESS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 140, 15 June 1928, Page 3

HELPING THE WORKLESS

VIEWS OF CORRESPONDENTS "JKx-uncmployed/"' in a letter to "The Post," suggests that while provision is being made for those workless who are able to undertake general labour, something should also be done for those who through old age or.war injuries are unfit for heavy work. He suggests that the big firms should be canvassed by a member of the Unemployment Committee and asked to replace those casual clerks in their employ who are receiving superannuation, that shipping companies should be asked not to employ as tally clerks those who have sufficient to live on, that big firms should offer whatever light jobs they have, and that the Tramways Department should put on more conductors instead of working overtime. A further proposal is that men who are nearing superannuation age should be given the option of retiring now without loss of benefit. The correspondent further suggests a Health Week for the collection of city rubbish, and that people who can do so should be urged to pay cash, and to pay city rates promptly, thus saving interest charges. "One of the Unemployed" condemns the Government relief works as neither" a palliative nor a remedy. "I and a friend of mine were on one job for nearly a month and we were recently put off, being told by the foreman that he did not think we were suitable for the work. It seems to be the practice of the Public Works Department as soon as one'gets acquainted with the work to be put off on the pretence that one is not suitable to make room for another unfortunate brother who may be up against it. One man, I might mention, went to the expense of buying a tent at a cost of about £2, which he fixed up on the job as he was anxiousto make as much money as possible, having been, through no fault of his own, out of employment for some time, but he was also put off, having incurred the expense of the tent, which he did not get the benefit of. There is another matter which I cannot understand, and that is why relief workers on the Public Works are .only paid once a fortnight. In their case surely an arrangement could be made to pay them every week which is done by the different local bodies. A good many of them when they start on the job are practically penniless, and have to borrow from their'friends until pay day cornea round." The accuracy of Mr. Atmore's_ statement regarding relict' work conditions is supported by 11. Ellis. He himself, he states, was sent, to Tophouse, iv the JNelson district, and in three weeks was able to do only four hours' work because ot the rain. He left the job in debt, and on his return to Wellington was met with a demand from the Labour Office for the cost of sending him to the relief works camp. '