UNEMPLOYMENT DISTRESS

Evening Star, Issue 21093, 4 May 1932, Page 6

UNEMPLOYMENT DISTRESS

ATTITUDE OF THE CHURCH PRESBYTERY DISCUSSES RELIEF MEASURES The acute distress which has been the outcome of the unemployment situation was a subject of discussion at yesterday’s meeting of the Dunedin Presbytery, the position and attitude of the church being exhaustively reviewed. A special report was submitted for consideration, and several resolutions were carried.

In moving the adoption of the report, the Rev. J. D. Smith said that since the last meeting of Presbytery several informal conferences of ministers bad been held to consider the relationship of the church to the present distress, both from the point of view of the general question of policy—the church’s impact upon economic conditions, and also the more practical question of the immediate measures that might 'be taken to relieve distress and improve the conditions of life. There was complete unanimity in declaring that it was urgently necessary for Christian men and women to take a greater part in civic and national affairs, so that the practical application of Christian principles in brotherhood and service might be given greater effect in the national and civio structure. There was also complete unanimity _ that the church must not become mixed up in politics and economic partisanship. Moreover, it was agreed that in so far as present conditions were responsible, especially for deterioration of character, and the imposition of hardship involving actual starvation and absence of necessities, the church must be active in countering these conditions by dealing not only with the after-effects, but also with the alteration of the conditions themselves. It was the business of the church, the Press, and all creators of public opinion to stir the social conscience, so that unemployment came to be recognised as a community responsibility and not solely that of the unemployed themselves. The people ought, to be made to recognise that just as the soldiers bore the burden of the political crisis in 1914-18, so the unemployed were bearing the burden of the economic crisis to-day. The Presbytery was therefore recommended to set up a sub-committee of laymen and ministers to investigate the position in Otago relief camp depots. This was agreed to. Mr Smith further moved that the Presbytery should ask the Home Missions Committee to make it possible for the Rev. G. Budd to investigate the position throughout New Zealand from the point of view of what contribution the church should make, particularly in spiritual and other provision for groups of unemployed. This was also adopted. The following sub-committ.a was appointed :—The Revs. W. Trotter, D. C. Herron, J. G. Dunn, J. D. Smith (convener), W. W. MacArthnr, D. Salmond, and Messrs H. P. West, M. Johnson, and J. R. Fairbairn.

The recommendation that they should urge upon the Government the claims of youths of from sixteen to twenty years of age and unemployed women was also adopted. ADEQUACY 0 FRELIEF WAGES. Air Smith then moved that the Presbytery urge the Government, in providing relief employment, to make the wage at least sufficient to cover the bare necessities of life, without it being necessary to resort to food depots and dockets, and also urge the inadequacy of the relief being provided as involving deterioration of character and suffering. The Rev. D. C. Herron stated that one of the things they were most interested in was that the character of the people should not be destroyed through the conditions they were forced to Jive in. Ho expressed appreciation of the work carried out by women and social workers in the depots, but was of the opinion that this system was not the best. The Rev. D. N. M'Kenzie, of West Taieri, opposed the motion, and submitted that voluntary help was a good thing for all concerned. The Rev. Ryburn was of the opinion that the Presbytery was being involved in a question of practical politics in which it should not enter. The Rev. W. W. M'Arthnr said he felt sure that if they took a stand and got this charitable policy eliminated and adequate payment for work substituted, the church would he doing a great thing. The Moderator (the Rev. T. W. Potts) spoke of his own experience as a member and a chairman of a hospital board. It was his conviction that it was wrong and wicked to dole out charitable aid to the families of able-bodied men, without those men doing any work. The dole and depot systems were breaking down the pride and self-respect of the people. (“ Hoar, hear.”) It was far better to let the men work, and give them the necessities of life. The present systems would create a class of people who would be a burden and a menace to society. The Rev. G. Miller said that it was his conviction that the depots were doing a great deal of harm. Many would not go to the depots and receive aid, and others who did receive practical help, disposed of it and used the money in other ways. It was very difficult to prevent this happening. Professor Hewitson pointed out that some of the remarks made might leave the impression that they were not sympathetic with the very unselfish social services of those people who conducted the depots. The Rev. J. D. Smith said that it was utterly impossible for people on relief work to pay their way at present. The motion was carried. THE EVICTION LAW. In moving that the law of eviction be amended to provide an option for magistrates in cases of deserving tenants, Mr Smith said it was only common humanity to ask the Government to make such a provision for power to be given to magistrates. The Rev. H. J. llyeburu suggested that the question should lie submitted to the Public Questions Committee. Once again they were tinkering with practical politics and he did not think that they should cjp that. He, himself, did not consider ho was competent to vote off-hand on such a subject, even after it had been explained. When they got on to the subject of legislation they were dealing with a subject of the widest ramifications, lie would move as an amendment that it be submitted to the. Public Questions Committee. The Rev. D. M. M'Kcnzie seconded the amendment, and other speakers urged that it was a mistake to ask for legislation of this kind without the fullest investigation by a committee. The amendment was carried unanimously, and Mr Ryburn suggested the association of a member of the legal profession with the committee. Mr W. Allan was appointed. OTHER PROPOSALS. A further resolution urging the representation of unemployed workers as a whole, and not the unrepresentative

unemployed workers’ movement, on the local Unemployment Committee, was carried unanimously. A resolution suggesting that the Public Questions Committee should ascertain by investigation, the minimum income required for bare subsistence without too much deterioration, was also carried.