WORKERS AND SUSTENANCE.

Evening Star, Issue 22515, 7 December 1936, Page 5

WORKERS AND SUSTENANCE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I am afraid I cannot allow “Worker’s” letter to go by unchallenged. I shall take each point separately. Certainly I am glad he has the decency to uphold the man who looks for work, but before the Government abolishes sustenance, where are all these public works camps for our men to go to that our worthy members promised? Some time ago you published a report dealing with the works; and 1 took particular notice that of over 18.000 employed by Public Works, only 250 were allotted to Otago. So perhaps “Worker” has plenty of work to share with his less fortunate neighbours, the sustenance men. Regarding the farmer, the small man certainly has my sympathy; but the big man has had his bed well feathered. How many wealthy farmers to-day are holding, and have been drawing, good salaries from onr Government P If fewer men held two jobs there would certainly he more work to go round. Before the police clean up the streets of the so-called vagrants I wonder if “ Worker ” will state how many of the number who appear before the courts for drunkenness, etc., are men who are working. Why should a decent-living man who, through no fault of his own, have to accept this charity be classed as a vagrant?-—I am, etc., Bumble Bee. December 5.