UNEMPLOYED APATHY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 116, 12 November 1931, Page 14

UNEMPLOYED APATHY

STEOJNG CRITICISM

"TAKE ALL, GIVE NOTHING"

Pungent criticism of tho apathy of tho unempj oyed in co-operating with tho Relief Committee in measures for the relief of dlistress was expressed by Mr. Basil Coo/per last night at a meeting oi! the Lower Hutt Belief Executive, and his remarks received strong support from othor members of the executive.

. Recent ,ly an organisation in the borough, at the request of the Mayor, Mr. W. T. Strand, agreed to repeat "Princess Chrysanthemum" in aid of the relief funds, and Mr. Cooper said he thoright it would be a good opportunity for those who were receiving assistance to help the causo by canvassing for the sale of tickets. "I offered, the men. a Is for every Us worth sold <>r a 10 per cent, return," said Mr. CJooper, "and I thought that even if thoy would not assist the causo they wouldl be anxious to earn tho money; but /all that was done was seventeen tickets sold. This is proof positive that these people are out to take all they; can get and give nothing in return. It is time we sat up and took notice." W.r. Cooper'then went on to speak of the lack of assistance rendered by the unemployed on the industrial counter, of 'which he is chairman. The idea of tho industrial committee was to organise tho unemployed to work at their trades, making goods which would be sold to augment the funds. Mr. Cooper said th.ut with the exception of one or two hfj had received no help whatever from tbie unemployed. "It is really disgracefml," he said. "Here are men who are giving up all their time to help in the relief of distress, and the men who are being helped will not lift a finger to Jielp themselves. Quite early I realis*ed we were getting no assistance from the men, but for tho sake of the cause and the few who did help I kept quiet. I had great visions, and with the assistance we should have had we could have done wonders; but now I am disgusted and am going to advocate closing the workshop. Members of the committee have worked hard, but after all these months of work we have made only; £10 out of the scheme, solely because the men were too lazy to help themselves." Mr. A. N. Wallace, another active worker, said: "The response by tliu workers who are capable of helping has been most disappointing. A few have helped, but the great mass have not helped." He moved that as soon as the present-material was used up the workshop be closed. Carried. Mi1. Wallace said the time had come for the committee to curtail many of its activities. "There are," he said, "many things on which I wish to express my mind, but I will wait for a fuller meeting." Mr. Cooper reminded the meeting that, at tho beginning of the committee's work the unemployed had, on 3rd June, at a meeting over 200 strong, voted to a man to co-operate in the work of relief, and that not more than a dozen had made any attempt to help. Asked by a member if he desired his opinions to be given publicity, Mr. Cooper said: "I hope the Press will withhold nothing. lam absolutely wild about the whole matter. I am willing to work all I know how, and I have done so, but I think the public should know—what we have been aware of all through—that the people who ought to have helped have dono practically nothing.'' ■