PROTEST ENDORSED

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 110, 11 May 1934, Page 8

PROTEST ENDORSED

SUSTENANCE PAYMENTS

"INHUMAN ATTITUDE"

Support in general terms was given by the Makara County Council today to a resolution carried at a public meeting in Palmerston North last month protesting against the introduction of sustenance payments to the unemployed instead of employment nt the former rates in places where approved capital works could not be found. In his circular letter soliciting the support of other local bodies, the Mayor of Palmerston North (Mr. A. E. Mansford) said that the funds at the disposal of the Unemployment Board were never more healthy than at the present time, and did not warrant the adoption of "this inhuman attitude." Councillor W. Horrobin expressed the opinion that a Commission should be set up to g6 into the whole question of unemployment. The chairman (Mr. E. W. Bothamley): I am afraid all the resolutions we pass •will not do any good. I will move that the letter be received. Councillor C. H. Phillips: I think we should support the Palmerston North people in some shape or form. If we cannot find sufficient work for our men we may be in the same position. Councillor Horrobin said that the important point was whether sustenance was- to be substituted generally for work. WIDESPREAD EFFECT. Councillor E. Windlcy said that at present the Makara County Council was not concerned with the problem of sustenance, but the time was not far distant when it might be vitally affected, because there were not the capital works for the employment of men under the No. 5 scheme. "I agree with the opinion expressed in tho letter," he said. "We must realise it was a meeting of responsible public men who were aware of the plight of their fellow-citizens, and we would bo very sorry to see our own men in the' same position. . . . There is no reason why we should not pass a resolution which will tend to guard against making the lot of the unemployed worse than it is. We must realise that the less these men receive the harder it is for the landlords and the business men. The revenue is increasing and payments are decreasing, and so far as I can judge there is no justification at all for these low allocations. I will move as an amendment that this council is of tho opinion that the sustenance payments are altogether too low."

Councillor Phillips said there was no doubt that the cutting-down of the payments was making matters worse for everybody. "A BIGGER COMPLAINT." The chairman: So far as we know the Palmerstou North men are getting more than our own men arc getting. They arc paid for the • fourth week, and ours are not. We have a bigger complaint than .the Palmerston North people.

Councillor Phillips: All the more reason why we should support them.

The chairman: Do you suggest that the Unemployment Board is frittering its funds away?

Councillor Phillips: I do. We have only to see what is going on. . . .

Councillor E. G. Mexted: Don't forget we are coming into tho winter.

Tho position in Palmerston North and other similar districts^ was that there were no largo capital works on which to employ the men, and their families were suffering, said Councillor Windley. He thought that was quite wrong. .

Councillor Horrobin: It is a national matter arid shoulc} be gone into on a national basis.

Councillor Mexted: We should support it to the extent that we believe the unemployed arc not getting enough, but I personally don't like the sustenance system. The idea should bo to find work. I don't wish to support any move to get the Government to extend what is only a dole. MEN IN MAKARA COUNTY. The chairman suggested that it would j be better to pass a resolution expressing the opinion that the ■ Unemployment Board should find further avenues of work for the unemployed. "I will undertake to say that as long as there are unemployed in the Makara County this council will find work for them," he added. "It is a different matter whether the Unemployment Board ■will allow us to do it."

Councillor Windley said that ■ the board's reply to the suggestion that it should open up new avenues of work would be that the onus was on the local bodies.

After further discussion Councillor Windley's motion was carried.