UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS

Evening Star, Issue 21081, 19 April 1932, Page 10

UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS

I—*1—* METHODIST MINISTERS' FRATERNAL MANIFESTO The Methodist Ministers’ Fraternal to-day issued the following manifesto on the problems attendant upon unemployment: — “ As ministers of religion, believing that the Chritsian ethic teaches the sac-redness of personality, and the right of every man and woman to such security in work, and such just share in the economic results of their labour, as will ensure the full development and enjoyment of life, we express ourselves as gravely concerned in this time of emergency with the present unemployment position in onr dominion. “ First of all, we regret that so many of our fellow citizens_ are unemployed owing to the exigencies of the times. Accepting, as we do, the Christian principle that the strong should bear the burdens of the weak, wo deplore the evident tendency of' the Government to plactf an unfair proportion of taxation on the shoulders of the poorest citizens, and strongly urge the adoption of the principle of a graduated form of taxation, rising steeply with every £IOO of additional income. “ We condemn all recourse to violence, and tender our sympathy to all who have been injured, or have suffered loss in the recent unhappy disturbances. “ We pledge ourselves to help to remove the root causes of poverty and unemployment, and accord our support to all constitutional methods of securing redress of grievances, and of promoting industrial and social reforms. “ On the national question we urge the Government:— (a) Immediately to abolish the .** stand-down week (b) That there shall he no further reduction in wages; (c) Increasingly to provide produotive work as far as possible; (d) To provide sustenance for all those physically incapable of work. “ On the local question we recommend : “ (a) That the Unemployed Workers’ Movement should have representation on the Local Unemployment Committee. “ (b) The adoption of the chit system with satisfactory safeguards, so ns to give as much freedom as possible in the purchase and choice of food. “ Finally, we appeal to all Christian people and to all men and women of goodwill to make a worthier response to the compelling needs of thousands of our fellow-citizens in distress by providing work where possible and by generous giving in money and goods. “ Signed by the Executive Committee on behalf of the Dunedin Methodist Ministers’ Fraternal. “ H. E. Bellhousb (Chairman of the Otago-Southland District). “ Perot Paris. “ H. Ryan. “ H. Daniel. “ Leslie B. Neale.”-