UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF.

Evening Star, Issue 21091, 2 May 1932, Page 2

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF.

TO THE EDITOR, Sir, —A letter of humour and pathos by a correspondent last week stated the facts tragically true in many homes. He referred to a lady who, on reading of the “ stand down ” week being abolished, anticipated purchasing boots and clothing for her husband, but who, like many others, received a shock on digesting the “good news.” Ey the imposition of the Is tax, the thin end of the wedge of Socialism is in. Why stop here? Much of this will bo swarlowed up in organisation of relief work and useless work, chipping grass, etc. The urgent need of many thousands of workless and their dependents is for boots and clothing. A factory could be started with an allocation of a sura of money from this taxation, to provide these urgent necessities, using the wool with which this fair land is abundantly supplied, and employing many people, but with the solo aim of service, not profit, to sell the goods absolutely at machine cost price. Clothing plays a physiological part in a man’s character; his personal appearance has a tremendous effect upon his mind. When unable to purchase so little as a pair ot socks, with everything at home wearing out, no replacements being made on account of the prices being beyond the purse of relief workers, down at heel, ragged, one is apt to become demoralised. Failing the above, in view of the many aid unions that have brought funds for various purposes, why hot hold one for this purpose? The need is. great, such as only men long unemployed can really understand.—l am, etc., E. E. Kite. April 30.