FOOTWEAR SCHEME

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 109, 11 May 1933, Page 12

FOOTWEAR SCHEME

MINISTER EXPLAINS

STIMULUS TO INDUSTRY

EEPLY TO EETAILEES

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This Day. The details of the Unemployment Board's additional winter relief, involving among other things tho supplying of working boots to the unemployed and assistance to secondary industries, have been made available by the Minister of Employment (the Hon. A. Hamilton). "Tho board," states the Minister, "has been giving close attention to tho question of increasing the spending powet of tho unemployed workers. Thero arc two ways in which this could be achieved. Wo might increase the individual weekly amounts granted, but the limitation of funds would not allow of any substantial increase in tho weekly pay without first increasing > taxation, and the board is convinced that to press for an increase in this special taxation would result in accentuating the problem of unemployment. The other method is to make available for them, as greatly reduced prices, some of tho goods, of which they are in urgent need, and which today they cannot purchase through tho ordinary channels of trade. FINANCING OF SCHEME. '' Our first aim is to stimulate the boot industry by making it possiblo for every relief worker who has had_a lengthy period on relief, to obtain good boots for the winter. The intermittent relief worker on scheme 5 will be given an opportunity to work one extra day over his, ordinary allocation, for which he will receive an order entitling him to a new pair of working boots of a value much- in excess of an ordinary day's pay. In addition,to this issue .of working boots, the total cost of which in the case of scheme 5 workers on rationed work will bo met from tho board's fund, the board is busy finalising arrangements for the manufacture of boys' and girls' boots and shoes and women's shoes with a view to supplying them for cash at prices below manufacturers' costs. This will involve a heavy expenditure against our fund, and may rightly bo regarded as ad: ditional winter relief." The first advantage of the proposal was that tho additional relief given would be of a far greater value to tho recipient than equivalent in cash. The second, and more important advantage, was that to provide a'market that did not at present exist for, say, 100.000 pairs of boots to be manufactured ■in New Zealand from New Zealand materials. This would bo a very effective stimulant to the boot industry. BENEFIT TO RETAILERS. "Wo are quite. conscious that at a first glance the proposal may be viowed with suspicion by tho retailers," said the Minister. "This aspect received very careful consideration by the board, and, if we examine, the position without prejudice, we shall find that the retailers will benefit Tather than lose. A recent examination of the unemployment register discloses the- melancholy fact that, of a total registration of 48,640, no less than 30,452 have, been on the books and in continuous receipt of relief for more than twenty-six weeks, and 17,502 of ■that number have been in receipt of continuous relief for over fifty-two Weeks. It wil be agieed that, unless these men have been supplementing their relief earnings, they cannot have been able to purchase boots, and must have been depending largely on gifts of cast-off boots and shoes. It is therelore clear that to issue boots under the conditions set down will in no way adversely affect the retailer, but the additional market we are creating will mean more men and women being placed in steady employment at standard1 wages who will immediately become better customers of tho retailers." . . Working boots would be the first to be dealt with. The forms of application and samples of the boots would be-available at all bureaux within_two or three weeks. Preference would be given to the unemployed who had been oh scheme 5 rationed relief for over twenty-six weeks continuously.