Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11th., 1929. “UNEMPLOYMENT"

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 October 1929, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11th., 1929. “UNEMPLOYMENT"

JT was to be expected that when Sir J. Ward insisted that those wishing to benefit by the Government’s new scheme for unemployment relief, must register at the

labour bureaux, there would be a large increase in the numbers enrolled at the various centres, but few could have expected so great a rush. During the week ended Tuesday, the first seven days since the Government scheme was announced, 2040 entirely new registrations were received, and by yesterday the total was well over 6000. The serious view taken of this development by the Government is the announcement that henceforth no information is to be published of the number of further registra-

tions. What does all this mean? It cannot be believed that all those registering are genuinely “ unemployed” within the meaning of the word as intended by the Cabinet in authorising relief works. Many “casuals” or day labourers must think they see in the new projects an opportunity for longer and probably more remunerative engagements that they, at present, can obtain. They cannot be blamed for looking after their own interests, but this rush to register must give false impressions of the extent of unemployment in the Dominion. If the figures are cabled abroad—and this is very probable,—it will be a

bad and undeserved advertisement for this country. A weakness in all such relief schemes is the tempta-

tion they offer to those who think that less laborious conditions of employment can be found in such Government works. It will not be the least of the difficulties of the authorities to prevent the new camps becoming as havens of rest for those who are disciples of the go-slow creed. Unemployment should be decreasing rather than the contrary.

Rural seasonal occupations are developing customary activity, and se-

eondary industries for the most part, face their busiest time of the year. The country generally, is very prosperous, as is proved by the banks’ quarterly returns for September, and there is plenty of money available for investment. Bank officials express surprise at the lack of confidence by capitalists, and, certainly, there is little in the national outlook to warrant real concern. Capitalists may be perturbed by the Government’s unemployment and closer settlement schemes, but if these are efficiently managed, they should add to the wealth of the Dominion and to the security of investments. Meanwhile, further announcement by Sir Joseph regarding unemployment relief schemes seems to be desirable. It should be made clear from the outset that the Government has no intention of competing with normal avenues of employment, and that registration will not necessarily be rewarded by engagement on relief schemes. Every assistance should be given to those who can supply evidence of past lost work and wages, entitling them to be regarded as ‘ ‘ unemployed, ” but other applicants should be dealt "with less philanthropieally. The future has to be considered as well as to-day. Once the belief becomes general that employment on Government relief works can be obtained on demand, the industrial and financial conditions of New Zealand will face chaos. It may be claimed by those who have long used, “ unemployment” as political propaganda that the great rush to register simply discloses the extent of the prevailing unemployment, but does anybody really believe that. Certainly, Sir Joseph Ward could not have meant to provide work for from 6000 to 7000 men within five weeks, when, he made his recent promise.