WORKERS AND RELIEF WORK

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 119, 22 May 1930, Page 8

WORKERS AND RELIEF WORK

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—The other night T read with interest a letter concerning the wages of relief labour, in which the writer saw, no reason for paying these men less than that earned by men constantly employed in similar work —in other words, unjon. rates. I do not profess to know the state of affair^ concerning men leaving permanent, jobs for relief work in the city, but I doi ■know the case as regards ' the country, where I have lived for about ten years. Men who have been able to earn a living wage for several years suddenly ; leave when an "unemployed gang" is required for the Main Highways Board or some other body, and apply as unemployed. The reason is, of course, that they can obtain better wages on the road. Certainly it would be a very difficult task for iihe Government, or anyone else, to differentiate between bona fide cases and those of the "leave one job for a better one" class. ■ It is no wonder that the unemployed troubles are not getting much better, seeing that about 50 per cent, of each relief gang does not relieve unemployment at all. . May I suggest that before employing 'men for relief works the body concerned should inquire who the former employer was, and. the reason for unemployment. The reason should come from the former employer.—l am, etc, j STILL HOPEFUL.

21st May.