THE NO. 5 SCHEME.

Evening Star, Issue 20984, 24 December 1931, Page 10

THE NO. 5 SCHEME.

TO in IDIXO*.

Sir—l would like to congratulate those in authority on the splendid way they are administering, the affairs ot the A T o. 5 scheme in this city. I heir generosity is unbounded, and their sense ot British fair play astounding. In the past our groups have reported, at Opoho each Monday morning, but lor some reason we were instructed this week to report on Wednesday. Some sis or eight of us have been employed for months past at the botanical nurseries, where certain work can be done during wet weather. At 10 o’clock on Wednesday word came from headquarters for all men to cease work on account of the rain. The fact that we had dry jobs made no difference, except that it would not be fair to those who could not start on account of the rain. It just makes this difference: It takes from us six or eight men that little extra money that would have tended to make our Christmas a little easier. In my case it means 12s od; for owing to our having tried to be thrifty during the past twelve years, and in spite of having lost probably a third of each of those years through unemployment, my wife and I have managed to save a paltry few pounds, and I am now penalised to the extent of getting only three days’ work a month. A highly qualified man—nine months unemployed—savings at vanishing point, and the lads in the Labour Bureau say: “Yes, it’s stiff,, isn’t it, but you can work the other six hours aftei the holidays.” A lot of enjoyment we’ll get out of it then. I do think they might have let us get the day in. However, it is no good growling. Here’s luck, my masters, for the new year. We might earn our other six hours’ pay then. My week’s wages tomorrow are three shillings, so I am still Smiling. December 23.