THE UNEMPLOYED

Evening Star, Issue 17706, 6 July 1921, Page 3

THE UNEMPLOYED

RELIEF MEASURES CRITICISED BY LABOR MEMBERS. [ Special to tub ‘ Star.’] CHRISTCHURCH, July 5. Messrs Howard, Sullivan, and M‘Combs, the three Christchurch Labor members of Parliament, have forwarded the following letter to the Acting Prime Minister (.sir F. D. Bell) : Wc have been watching with con-

siderable interest the herculean efforts to relievo unemployment. According to a statement just published, we note, that the total number employed on public works for the week ended June 13 was 5,028, and for the week ended June 25 the total was 5,257, and that of this total 820 arc employed on relief works, leaving a total of 4,437 on ordinary public works at full rates of pay, as ’against 5,516 employed on public works in February, representing a reduction in this one department alonn of 1,079 men. So the Government's efforts to relieve unemployment amount to this; the dismissal of 1,079 men from one department, besides hundreds more from other departments, and the employment of 820 men—the highest total for one week —on-.so-called relief works at reduced rates of pay. The latest facts and iiguies strengthen our conviction that, despite efforts to stabilise wages, the Government is deliberately pursuing a policy definitely calculated to- reduce (he standard of living for the wage workers c-f the Dominion.