POINTS FROM LETTERS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 8, 9 July 1931, Page 4

POINTS FROM LETTERS

TO RESTORE PROSPERITY

As a means of overcoming present difficulties, Thomas Dixon suggests that all employers should employ an extra hand for a week. "Let-all business men who employ labour or could employ labour, no matter what their line of business is, for one week employ one extra hand, and I am certain, they would ' need to wait only line week for their . dividend. The thousands of unemployed who would benefit by that one weeks-work are badly in need of food and boots ■ and clothing. Their week's'pay would be spent-almost immediately and entirely >on the bare necessaries of life,'and would bo for the most part spent on' New Zealand-made goods. The effect would be far-reaching, and the experiment could'be tried again at frequent - intervals. I am certain it would not be long before < that casual hand became a permanent one. . . To all employers who do their bit by employing an extra hand I would issue a certificate to bo displayed in tho window so that the grateful worker, with his relations and friends, would'know where to purchase his goods, and in this way the employer would improve his own business, help New Zealand in general, and himself :in particular.''

' Other' proposals, made by W. M'Gregor, are briefly as follow:—;( 1) That every farm in both Islands should have men put on to clean it up, cutting manuka and gorse, burning, ploughing, sowing crops and grass. As a result thousands of farmers would buy or breed more dairy cows, and thousands' of men' would-be given employment.' The country would be helping the farmer, giving, something for nothing, but I maintain that''the move would be a, good one. (2) That the Government lose no time in throwing open all the land "that it can arid dividing it : into S or G-aerelots and' 20-acre lots. This would allow-working men! to 'take up small holdings and ' earn;at least a living oif the twenty-.acres, and", a part o£ a living off the smaller plots. .. If unemployment should increase,: these workers with small holdings would be able to live off their land instead of walking the streets' starving.; (3) That a very high tariff be placed on' all private pleasure motor-cars,' so high, in fact, that people would not be,able to buy them until things righted themselves again. The people' want protection against themselves, so it rests with the' Government to compel people partly to use horses and traps, which will create work for thousands, growing oats, chaff,' and greenstuff, reviving those dead trades, the blacksmith and the harness-maker, and retaining the money, in the country., (4) That the Government use every endeavour ;to develop the gold-mining industry. Ten thousand men'could be placed.' o'n ; ;tlic West Coast, and a few thousand on the Thames Coromandel field. . . The Government will be' compelled sooner or later to concentrate all its efforts on-the land, both, ou the surface and unilerueath. New Zealand to-day is one, big farm-run by the Government. It has a Idrge _mn J ber of people farming this land. The Government is' the manager. The manager for 15 years grew careless because ! the farm paid fairly well. He spent all the takings and failed to build up a reserve for the rainy day. The rainy day arrived, prices fell, and he was seized with panic. ;He sacked half his men and I then discovered they were starving.' He looked around him and noticed that half his farm was Overgrown with ; manuka, gorse, and weeds, and decided he would take all the men.on again,i clean up'the farm, and breed more . dairy. cows. ; He got busy, everybody got work," he decided that the farming land was not worth as much for, farming purposes as it was twelve months ago owing to the fall in prices, but got an agreeable surprise when his butter-fat cheque, came in j showing as big a return as in prosperous times, brought about by extra cows and improved pastures."

EASTBOURNE AFFAIRS.

"Another Ratepayer. supports,tho demand for action in Eastbourne" to deal with wages of borough - employees. "The Mayor should adviseif it-ltf: preferable' to make a straight-out cut of, say, 10 per cent, or to keep the wages bill at the present level and ration the work and so absorb a number of the unemployed. Also, what is tlje position of married and single men on the staff when there, are so many unemployed in the Bay? This is the Mayor's first year of office, as he was elected unopposed. Under" these circumstances it would.surely.not be asking too muck, for him to call a; public meeting of ratepayers to put forward his, policy for approval. He wquld then feel ho enjoyed the confidence of ratepayers and the council." ' ; ,' . :