FINANCE THE KEY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11494, 28 April 1931, Page 2

FINANCE THE KEY

UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM

-MINISTER’S VIEW

DEPUTATION •' STATES CASE

After the police had restored order, following the attempt by unemployed demonstrators to msh the gates of. Parliament grounds on Thursday last, six members pf the deputation)' which included one woman interviewed tho Minister of Labour, tho Hon. 8. G. Smith. After hearing tljo argument put l'qr_ ward by tho members of! tho 1 deputation. the Minister said tlio whole question was. one ofl finance; ho would .bring, the.’ .varipuy questions raised before tho Prime Minister, Cabinet, or the Ministers concerned. The principal pointy made by the deputation,; were tllVit the No. 5 scheme for the unemployed was useless; thgt tlio sustenance allowance was insufficient;, that the keep given by tho Charitable Aid Board.' was inadequate; that ' provision should bo made for dealing with, maternity cases, and that tlio fees at St. Helen’s Hospital hud been increased from three to five guineas, and no woman could bo admitted until a deposit, of £1 had been pip'dAir. J... Sanford urged that No. 5 scheme was absolutely useless as it did not; give them enough to exist upon.

Tho Minister: Does that bring mo any more money to provide work? Air. 8a ni'ord: “You are supposed to he serving the interests of- the people, but we are not beniS' served at all. Wo have been forced to demonstrate.” There wore '4OOO unemployed workers starving, and the Government should make an honest attempt to do something for them.

CHARITABLE AID

Mrs. Potter contended that the sustenance allowance. Was insufficient. One family of tln-ee received 51b of meat 121 b. of bread, soz. of tea —which she described as all dust —3lb of sugar, and Gs. worth of groceries, including,' potatoes but no greens; also flour but no bakingpowder without which they could not make scones, and no firing. Mrs. Potter asked that unemployed and relief Workers with tlieir children, should receive free hospital treatment. They had not tho money to pay 12s Gd or 15s to a doctor. The fees fo r Bt. Helen's Hospital had been increased from three to five guineas, and £1- deposit had to be paid before admission. The Minister replied that thoso matters were not within his jurisdiction, but l o would discuss them with the Alinister oil Health and the Prime Minister.

REAL GOOD SUSTENANCE”

Mr. E. Neil Condemned the No. 5 scheme' and the sustenance allowance. “IVc have the right to live and we want real good sustenance.” The Minister: Nothing would give mo greater pleasure than to give all unemployed a full week’s work, but I haven’t the money.

Speaking of charitable aid, Mr. Neil asked the Minister to “go up there ‘incog.’ one Tuesday and sec what happens.” He also urged 'hat tlio unemployed working on rebel wages eould not pay the levy. The Alinistor.: Some of your men hiiven’L played tho game. They have done better tha.n. others and have not had the decency to pay the 7;'G Should tho chap, who Pays stand down for tho one who does not. pay." Another speaker, Mr. O’Reilly, said if something were not done there would be burglaries and general turbulence throughout the country. Money was being spent on unnecessary things such as aerodromes, which could be done without. in times like these. and the money spent in providing for the unemployed. The No. 5 schema was condemned by Mr. 8. Tasker, who said lie had been out of work six months, his savings were gone, and ho and his wife were up against it and starving. Thousands were starving and the scene at the gates was only a forerunner to more'. Tho Minister: Is that a threat r

The speaker replied that it could he taken o 3 such if they could not yet food.

IMPOSSIBLE POSITION

lu the course of his reply Air. Smith explained how the unemployed schemes had had to be curtailed owing to (ack of finance. Tlio money raised by .’the. unemployment ,levy* had been expended. No. 5 scheme cost; £50,000 a week- which was £2, 150,000 a year. If everyone paid the levy promptly it: would only total £OOO,OOO, and with tho Government subsidy would only meet half the cost of No. 5 scheme. Some of the men should he able to. earn a, few shillings in other ways besides relief work. ’ He was sorry that there had not ' been a greater, . response on the part, of the farmers to take advantage of the 4a sehomo to get a number of- men on to the farms. It was all a matter of finance, and if more money could be found more could ho done! The Minister gahl lie would bring tho various questions before the Prime Minister Cabinet, o)- the Ministers of tlm departments concerned.

CASE- OF ARRESTED MEN ’ The Minisiei; was. further; asked to see that members taking part in the demonstration and deputation were not; victimised, and. asked find- the men who had, been arrested in Dio disturbance at the gates Plight, he released. The Minister replied that he knew" something of the. alleged vieUiuination, and lie was not going ffi Protect' the. man. whose, only, interest was to foment 1 rouble wherever he went. He would investigate any charge of victimisation, brought (o him but the matter of releasing the arrested .man was; not; fo-his hands.