FINDING OF WORK

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11451, 27 February 1931, Page 5

FINDING OF WORK

MR .COATES PROPOUNDS NEW POLICY.

DEVELOPMENT OF IDLE LANDS. ALL WAGE-EARNERS TO ASSIST TN PROVIDING FUNDS. HOW BONDS WOULD BE REDEEMED. (Press .Association..! DAHGAVILLE, Feb. 20 Til discussing tlie" problem of unemployment -in ii speech made at Tekopuru last night, the Hon. J. G Coates outlined a n'ew proposal for the absolution of unemployed. There were, he said, two avenues of permanent oniploynieht that should- lie kept in mind when discussing measures for relief in Now Zealand and those wore (1) the absorption of workers in existing and new industries; and (2) land settlement. The schemes so far tried had, in a great measure, failed and the problem of unemployment was only being tinkered with. In any case, (lie work being under taken was not all of material value. It certainly was work and to that extent it was better, than adopting a “dole” system. “What is required,” said Mr. Coates, “is. a comprehensive policy lhat will place thousands of cdtzons in permanent ecctipation. Has such a policy so far been conceived ? If so, the scheme lias not yet been placed before tho public. Efforts have been made in various directions, but have any of the undertakings so far initiated by the Government or the Unemployment Board struck the keynote of a - far-reaching national policy? The schemes put under way by the Unemployment Board to alleviate the growing numbers of unemployed can be summarised as mainly palliatives. Tlie Government has been attempting to meet the problem by embarking upon a dangerous policy of absorbing increased numbers of men on the .construction of new railway linos. Those who have made ii study of operating railways'know well that tlie utmost care must be exercised in constructing new railway lines and the fact is 'that the Government havo become alarmed as to tlie wisdom of what was their declared policy, and have now closed down much new railway line construction. Again, manv thousands of men are employed on roads and. recently, more havo been transferred to the .construction of roads from railway lines, on which work lias been stopped. Is this method of development likely to return interest or value for the money expended? Some of the work is. necessary from a developmental point of view, but much of it may, with advantage, stand over for years. “I konw only too well that what the settlers require is metal, but not rounded off corners and elaborate formation which, when completed, still leaves the settlers concerned without access for mouths in the year. I gay that much of the work now being put in band is years ahead of the actual requirements and the same can be said of much of tho work now contemplated. They are not necessary works, but are being pushed on in order to provide for unemployed, for whom no other better or more productive means of development have been devised., Further. the Unemployment Board is having local bodies anticipate their programme ol work and immediate requirements in order to absorb as many men as possible and the Government through the Unemployment Board is subsidising these local undertakings, which, in the ordinary course, would not he put in hand"for many years. A largo part of this local work also could well stand over. It must he home in mind, too, that in the winter mouths, when the greater difficulty is experienced in finding work for men—and some of the work now in hand would he most acceptable for winter relief. “The Government has also put.some men on to the task of developing land. Some of tho land being broken in ha-s been purchased from private individuals at a figure beyond, present dav values and men are being paid standard rates of pay in improving that land. Those acquainted with sonic of tlie private estates purcliased know that the Crown will not get back the cost of purchase and- labor costs for the development of tins land. Increased production xs the key to greater national- wealth, and the scheme I wish, to outline is designed to show how this may bo achieved and, at the same time, give jpermainerib employment to many -thousands, of our unemployed. It lias becomes, imperative, that, a definite move forward, be made in the direction of developing Crown and other idle lands. Will the present depression last for six niqntli.s? Yes. Mill it last for 12 months? Probably Mill it last for five years? Not it this plan is adopted. The result of the plan will eventually benefit tlie nation. the . base of -it being increased production, nd I am firmly convinced that only by increased production, more especially of our primary products, can we improve the condition of our people and the country as a whole.

“I urupuse a .live, year programme providing for the absorption of, say, 4000 moil and those utilised in breaking in the country would be associated in groups:—

(1) Those who iiave been accustomed to outdoor life and wish to become settlers. (2) Those who are not so well adapted, but, by their fitness and application, proved good farm workers and

(3) Those not likely to acquire the. habits of country life in a very short time.

Some 5000 men now' unemployed would be mobilised and their energy directed in preparing idle Crown lands for settlement purposes and those men who. were keen and adaptable would, before long, join the ranks of primary producers and become selfsupporting. Huts and hutments would be used for. housing all 'of them, and. they would be convertible eventually, to farm requirements. Tho wives and children of employees would bo allotted a sum of money per day for their maintenance. The undertakings would embrace: —

(1) Development of. Grown lauds, i.e. puinico lands, gum lands, clay lands apd other suitable Crown and idle lands of which there are vast areas. (2) the reclamation of sand , dune country by the planting of marram grass, arid; lupins preparatory to making pasture lands or . ‘by .the planting of forest trees. (3) the reclamation of tidal estuaries in suitable localities, of which there are thousands of acres available in Kaipara,-Hokiaaiga and other liorbors in the \North. Island. These extensive flats are only covered by salt water at, the highest spring tides and, where reclaimed, have proved valuable grazing coun- ■ try. ' - . ' ... _ (4) Irrigation arid preparing of land for closer settlement in the mica and schist regions of Central Otago arid otheri Iqnd in the South Island; which lias proved quite possible. of production:. when suitable treatment is applied.

As to control and management . a Minister ’ of the Crown Would, bo vested with full powers to • administer and would be responsible to ' Parliament. The Minister of. Lands-would, in ordinary -careum stances, be .in charge, but, as ; lie.vmay • now bo. overloaded 1 with the' probleiPs of thousands: -of Crown .forints who are hard; pressed, • ohe‘ or other of/’ these ; duties . ri - - a . t '.o-A''

would be delegated to another Minister of the Crown. Apart from the Ministers in charge of the general scheme, tho development of each area would be carried out under tho direction of a practical farmer or.‘farmers who know the locality and typo or country, being brought in. It is.-well known, that there', are ’competent farmers ready and willing to undortako the direction -of such, schemes and to of their time gratis. 'Clerical- staff and such experts .as might be required By thq directors to assist them ip. olasisfying schemes would bo provided, Rom the Civil Seryico and the finance required for; bringing the scliemo into existence and developing it should be found in the country. “I believe the following method is workable and lias tlie advantage of creating public, interest in. what may rightly- be termed a national policy to meet a- national emergency. My suggestion, provides that every person over the age of .18 years would bo asked to- contribute to the fund. Evpry person in receipt of wages, salary or income would have to contribute for tlie purpose of employing men and increasing,the country’s production and exports._ The contributions would bo paid in. special adhesive stamps and, at any time when a contributor’s pyments amounted to £1 a £1 bearer certificate would be issued and five of these certificates would be accepted for £5. These stato primary products bonds would bo noninterest bearing and bond-holders would " participate in the ultimate receipts by way of sale of the land, handled under a scheme for the purpose of division of the assets. Tho whole of the undertakings would be lumped together. These are some 750,000 souls in New Zealand of 18 years, and over and, assuming that 250.000 were exempted, and failed to pay from various causes, there would remain 'some 500,000 contributors and the contributions from this number at slightly over ninepence per week or 39s per year would provide £1,000,000. An alterative plan to that of a levy could be followed and provision made for a maximum and nnnimum contribution in the case ol males and females. In connection with tlie valuing and. tenure and a realisation of assets when settlers, preferably in groups, desired to occupy the land whether at tlie initiation stage or. during or after devolpment, the method to be followed in arriving at the valuation would be that of appraisement of tllP selected laud on the basis of productive value and not tlie actual cost of development—that is to say, the basis would be the productive value of the section of , laud allotted. Tho selector. might choose for himself any tenure provided for under the existing statute laws, with the additional provision for small payments dulling the earlier years of his occupation. A board of trustees would be created whoso duty it would be at the end of periods of not less than five years to assess the values and determine wliat the assets ol tlie undertakings . were, and what payments might he made to bondholders in the event of their wishing to surrender their bonds. “There are miscellaneous points which arise almost immediately, such as tlie vesting of the fee simple of the land coming under the scheme in a board of trustees on’ behalf of the bondholders, separating' tlie scheme from the control of any existing State Department and vesting the fee simple of land now under the control of the Marine Department in trustees and legislation would be necessary to cover these poiuts. Generally, the advantages of the proposal are that it defines a clear cut programme. It lias lor its object useful employment for men out of work and their intelligence, power and energy would be directed m, creating new* assets for thq count; y by increasing tlie volume of primary exportable products. It is clearly necessary to provide work for men cut of employment and those who, unoor the proposal outlined, would be asked to contribute, may expect a return in the future for some of the money provided. It will be seen tnat my proposals would eventually replace the existing unemployment schemes. Earlier in my remarks. 1 referred to the dole anti how necessary it was in my opinion, that New Zealand should avoid anything in the nature of this kind. 1 need only remind the people of this country that Great Britain lias found it necessary to lake mctisures to increase the previous shortage of tho dole i'uud.oi £53,000,000 by £20,000,C00. If \ tiffs country fails to adopt sound methods of employment, our costs in meeting tlie problem of unemployment will inevitably rise.”