UNEMPLOYMENT POLICY

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 129, 3 June 1935, Page 10

UNEMPLOYMENT POLICY

CREDIT AND LOW PAYMENTS

RELIEF WORKERS' VIEW

The secretary of the National Union of Unemployed, Mr. D. McLaughlin, in the course of. a criticism of the statement issued by the Minister of Employment, says that "the "comprehensive survey" of unemployment finances' and of the future policy of the Unemployment Board contains nothing that would justify the slightest hope that almost five years of experimenting with the lives of from 60,000 to 70,000 families had taught the board very much about the real nature of the social evil they are trying to cure. The published summary of the "comprehensive survey" is more of an advertisement for the superficial prosperity which has temporarily, returned to that class who enjoy "incomes other than salary or wages." ,

Complaint is made by Mr. McLaughlin of a lack of candour on the part of the board in failing to provide the taxpayer with a full and clear explanation of income and expenditure.

"The fact staring at us," he continues, "is that there is in credit at present the sum of £927,261. The merits or demerits of amassing almost a mil-lion-pounds at the expense of thousands of poverty-stricken families, for which the board sees no immediate purpose, is the thing which the unemployed want their fellow-citizens to examine. A cursory examination of the Press will reveal urgent appeals from numerous charitable organisations for: funds to relieve the everincreasing human suffering and poverty of unemployed families. The board views with satisfaction the improvement which it has been able to effect during the financial year under review,' and citizens', meetings all over the country have, with social .workers of all kinds and the unemployed, protested repeatedly against the low relief payment policy which has produced almost a million pounds which certainly will not be spent among unemployed . families, while the present policy lasts." • : ,