UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF.

Evening Star, Issue 21005, 20 January 1932, Page 6

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—ln reply to “ Miriam,” the work at Deep Stream is nothing less than slavery. I have just seen a pay list of a party of men; 5s 3d a week for a solid hard week’s work was one man’s average. If tfie authorities pay 10s a week rain or shine, and no humbug with the measuring tape and with good tucker, I guarantee the men will go and give as good account of their manhood as any early settler. As to married, men, on Christmas Eve our party (106) were paid. We have since then received a total of three days’ work, but are to work to-morrow (Wednesday) at long last. I have already stated the “ stand down ” periods entail much hardship, and. wo have received three days’ pay for a period of exactly a month from December 23 to January 23, yet the Unemployment Board states that in no case do two “ stand down ” periods follow each other. — I am, etc. B, E, Kite. January 19.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —In a time like the present, when men lose their jobs through no fault of their own, it seems to me that the proper way out is to ration the work. It can be done, and if this were made compulsory for, say, one year between two or three millions which are being wasted on navvying work could be used for new industry. For instance, had the rationing of work been made compulsory this time last year over £2,000,000 would have been available to-day. This time next year another two or three millions will have gone west. Dunedin could have a dozen more post offices, while there would bo these millions for new industry. The Government’s cry is: “We must balance the Budget.’’ lam not so concerned about this year’s Budget as future ones and our thousands of navvies, which are being reinforced by boys leaving school. Such a shortsighted policy as the Government is pursuing will land our wonderful little country in a nice old mess shortly, and unless a longer-sighted view is adopted right away we shall continue to waste millions a year maintaining an everincreasing army of educated navvies.— I am, etc., Guncase. January 19.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —“ Miriam ” wishes to know what kind of emasculated race we are rearing in this beautiful country of ours, with its unrivalled advantages of climate, social conditions, and so on

(the usual tripe). “Miriam” then brings in the noble pioneers, telling of their hardships etc. Well, they had something to work for, which we have not. In any case, many of us experienced harder times than the pioneer ever know, particularly in 1914-18, when wo went to make the world safe for democracy, and save our hearths and homes.

Another statement was to the effect that a strong physique would he developed—rather an impossibility, with many of us; the democratic war saw to that. However, we still retain our independence, which we intend keeping rather than submit to conditions that are not even equal to the South African coolie compounds. As for the white feathers, I am sorry that I did not qualify when they were being distributed. Had I foreseen the condition our “ fair country ” was to come to T would have taken the output of a record poultry farm. In conclusion, an apt description of “ Miriam ” would be a quotation from Artemus Ward, when he said that if the worst came to the worst he would be quite willing to shed the last drop of his dearest brother’s blood for his country.—l am, etc., Ex-navt. January 20.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— Surely “ Miriam ” is unwise to judge human beings in the mass. For myself—and I know of cases similar—l was offered work at Deep Stream and refused it, giving my reasons for doing so to the clerk in charge. I am a returned soldier, and for some years past have had to take extreme care of my health, both dietary and bodily, and I dare not risk camp life, which does not offer the conveniences necessary to my well-being. After the war I did not feel that my country owed me anything, but, rather, 1 felt honoured that I was of an age and physical fitness to serve our Empire in its time of peril, I have not complained at the attitude of the authorities in refusing me work other than the camps, but I must protest against being called an emasculated being. If, after this explanation, “Miriam” would still like to decorate me with a white feather, I would suggest that it would appear incongruous when placed next to two decorations awarded to me by “ gracious pleasure of His Majesty the King.” I am prepared to accept any position, clerical or manual labour, which will enable me to retain my health and prevent me from being a burden on the State. _ Regarding the younger generation of men who also refuse work at the camps, I would ask.“ Miriam” to remember that they have grown up during the last fifteen years, a period of almost luxurious living. Entertainments and amusements of all kinds have been provided for them, and there has been a plentitude of money to spend. These young men, of fair education and thinking ability, have been taught trades or professions, and, the sudden world-wide slump has thrown them into the ranks of the unemployed. Is it any wonder then that they dislike the idea of six days a week hard manual labour, to earn the sum of 10s or under a wage that is paid to the black workers in South Africa—especially when there is no hope that the -work done in either camps is going to improve the present economic depression? Lot “Miriam” promulgate some scheme, acceptable to the Government, whereby the relief work done would eventually help us out of our deplorable condition. Then T am sure the young men would tackle the job boldly and cheerfully, for I firmly believe That the spirit of the old

pioneers lives again in these young thinking people of to-day, but it has been lulled to sleep during our years of plenty. Let “Miriam” do her best with a new scheme, and I, with one half-decent suit of clothes and not a shilling in my pockets, will look forward with courage and faith, and a deep love of all mankind in my heart which tells me to Judge Not. January 20.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —“ Miriam ” quotes Scripture to cover her un-Christianlike letter. I would like to ask her, first, if she is a mother of unemployed boys. If so, could she sleep in a comfortable bed knowing her sons were in such a place as the camps are, and secondly, whyshould our boys be asked to go when they were forced to secure, the _ education they have to-day. If “Miriam” had been with the “hardy folk of fifty years ago ” she could have had her sons to help the family long before they were sixteen years of age. Another point: Why are our boys put out of work when late-comers are kept on, to wit, emigrants? The great cry “buy New Zealand-made goods ” would scarcely have been needed had New Zealand emf ployed only New Zealand youths and iris, and what an example we could ave set. instead of allowing the country to be overrun with outsiders of all castes. What did our husbands, brothers, and sons fight for in the Great War? Could one have received much worse than is thrown at us mothers to-day on all sides? I lived in tents off and on for years with my family when young, but not under the conditions our lads are asked to face to-day. I feel sure that if a number (and there is a large number) of mothers would make public their own and their boys’ sacrifices it would stagger “ Miriam.”—l am, etc., A Mother. January 20.