UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF.

Evening Star, Issue 22004, 13 April 1935, Page 28

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF.

• TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—tWo are, always hearing of some new solution to the unemployment problem, but so far we have received little benefit. Under the present system we can only keep on increasing the ranks of the unemployed, as the farreaching effects of the low wages are sending more men on to_ relief works each week. My "first point is: What happens to these men who are put on relief? They are really working for the city and county councils at l,ess than half rates of pay, • If the ralepayers were receiving any benefit from this it would not;-be so bad, but they l , are not. I consider that the Unom-. ployment Department, could be a very important department if it were run on business lines. By that 1 mean that relief workers should bp available for reproductive schemes only, and at standard rates of pay. For example, put the .unemployed in Otago on any reproductive work, either growing something, .manufacturing, or even mining, whichever was considered the most- suitable in this locality. When the product was sold even at a low price, in' some other country the money received : would more than make up for .the increased pay given .to the man. Actually the amount received for goods 1

Or .products would be profit—that is, comparing this scheme with the present system. If all the unemployed were in receipt of standard rates of present pay we would'have little need to worry;—l am, etc., Industry. [The number on relief work has not increased.—-Ed. E.S.]