The Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY. Juno 7. 1933. UNEMPLOYMENT.

Grey River Argus, 7 June 1933, Page 4

The Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY. Juno 7. 1933. UNEMPLOYMENT.

So many suggestions have been put forward lor dealing with the present problem of unemployment in New Zealand, each appearing to have merit to recommend it. until, put to the acid test of practicability and then found to be such as to embarass further the very people it was desired to help, that the lime lias arrived when if is realised that the problem is entirely beyond the conception of most of those who have been sincere and earnest in their desire to find some means for its solution. The telegraphed news in this isssue received last night from Auckland and Wellington indicates that the desire to relieve the distress following unemployment has never been more real, the outcome being Unit considerable progress towards finding a way to relieve the position is appearing to take form. Yesterday in Auckland an unofficial committee. of citizens, representing not only churches but Boards and trade concerns submitted schemes to the Hon. .Mr Coates, the Acting Prime Minister, to deal with tile matter. Their submissions included provision for work for all at. Yates sufficient to ensure that none should go without food, clothing and shelter, and doubtless had behind them the realisation that unemployment is detrimental to morale. It has been held that circulation of money was a first principle in creating employment, and the deputation therefore suggested the raising of a national loan of ten million pounds with provision for compulsory subscription if necessary. To get this money into circulation it. was suggested that it be loaned to local bodies for the prosecution of public, utilities, road and bridge construction, essential Government works, bonus on wool, butter, etc., to increase the existing scale of relief workers’ wages and generally to give everyone a more hopeful outlook on life. The suggestions put forward could not be in any way looked upon as fantastic but bear an air of practicability that makes them worth a trial. Then I here is the building’ subsidy scheme from which all round advantages are expected to accrue. If the scheme lias the result those

interested in building industries and sawmilling assert and the much needed employment of a permanent nature ean be afforded timber wprkers. considerable good will result for those connected with llw various branches of the limbm- imluslry who have suffered more than the workers in many other calks of life owing to Ihe large number dependent on the continuity of the timber trade, which has in its turn to rely to a great extent on building activity. While the new building scheme offers a field for the absorption of the unemployed rare must be taken to safeguard the hours worked ami provide a commensurate rate of pay. The rules attaching’ to the new scheme appea r I o ha ve been t bought fully framed and should be quite workable and equitable, in that they afford some protection for the worker as well as place, obligation on 1 lie employer. The Unemployment Board has been given powers which it can use if any evidence of abuse should become evident. The Board accepts no responsibility under the scheme for Employers’ Liability for Workmen's Compensation. It therefore behoves the worker to take thi’ precaution to ascertain that he is protected in that particular. An 'important proposal affecting the wives and families <>l unemployed is the sugges. Iton to form camps for married mC*. The true feelings of the wives of unemployed was emphatically expressed at a meeting in tb.e Wellington Town Hall last evening, when a protest against the proposal was carried and the suggestion made that work be found for married mon closer to their homes so that they would be enabled to live at home and retain their position as head of their own household. Being out of work is no reason for surrendering the right of every citizen to have his home and live in it and the protest of the wives appears to be justified, and will it is hoped lead to the decision to abandon the idea of married men’s camps, at least till every other channel of employment has been fully exploited. The assurance given by the lion. Mr Cobbe. to a deputation of the Christchurch Disabled Soldiers’ Civil Re-establishment Committee yesterday that the Government would manage to find them something (meaning money) when they fell short of funds was a further indication of the realisation of the Cabinet of the very real need for assistance of those who by reason of physical disability or by loss of employment through no fault of their own are reduced to poverty and distress. The outlook for those who have fell the severity of unemployment may be said tn appear brighter than since the clouds of depression first showed themselves on the economic horizon, and that gradual recovery to normality will be not long delayed will be the fervent wish of every resident of this fair rollllt I'V.