Grey River Argus FRIDAY, October 5, 1934. REASONABLE PROTEST.

Grey River Argus, 5 October 1934, Page 6

Grey River Argus FRIDAY, October 5, 1934. REASONABLE PROTEST.

Al.-iny people have been at. a loss to explain the growing rest id ions on freedom of speech in the Dominion. They have noted the prominence given to the academic criticism of this tendency, ami fell that such publicity fails li> square with the restriction. But the Government doubtless does not lose sight of other considerations. One such is the parallel tendency to whittle down

yet fi.Tllier I lie meagre relief allowed for the unemployed. Two bodies last evening decided to support a protest by the local unemployed against the pay cut of 25 per cent, in the ease of single men on the dole, that is from 10s to 7s (id weekly, and the cut of 121 per cent, in the pay of marrii'd men without children. It is such a disgraceful policy as this

against which the powers that be wish to have speech restricted, and no wonder. The explanation of these cuts, it seems, is that such large percentages are being taken from the lowest paid unemployed to give the money to men

with families. If there ever were a meaner policy than this, it would be interesting to know where it has been adopted. There are in all the land no poorer people than the. single unemployed on a rate of 10s per week, or the married ones on £1 per week, whereas there are tens of thousands of people to whom the Government might look for the money in question without causing them any hardship at all. This act seems to be an epitome of the funda mental principle of the present unemployment policy. It is the poor who are being most burdened with the responsibility of

feeding the poor. The Labour Party did shame the, Government into treating the old age pensioners like the civil servants in the matter of partially restoring their cuts, but the hides of those in power have become too hard altogether to allow of a plea for the hardest-hit unemployed having any effect. It is notorious, however, that the city unemployed are not so harshly treated as those in other places, whether in single men’s camps or in rural areas and smaller towns. The pea son has nothing- to do with fair play or compassion. It is due to. a calculation that where the unemployed are, most numerous, not even restrictions on speech would avail to throttle a protest were the hardship great as it is now in other localities. In Parliament, when it is pointed out that, working hard all the time, single men in camps have for years averaged less than nine shillings a week, Ministers turn only a deaf ear. They cannot

deny the fact that such men are engaged on work of a national character, and they prefer to say nothing, while they desire at the same time to prevent, others from unitedly’ protesting. The effect of forcing single men to exist on 7s (id per week must render the outlook all the blacker for not only themselves but for the thousands of young people who yearly leave school to face the battle of life. It is only too true that the dole is quite inadequate for men with families to maintain, but it is not the poorest, who should be plucked order to render the relief for families a little less inadequate. Why not instead, look to the richest? Bare justice dictates no loss. There are two aspects to this case. One is the definite admission, that the families of the

unemployed have been too much in want, and the other is a recognition of the plain obligation to make better provision for them. Half a crown less weekly must mean much to an unemployed person who is left with only 7s (><l on which to live, whereas it would mean little to people who receive in a few hours more than the single unemployed man is now allowed for a whole week. All over the Dominion local bodies, recognising that the Government is fading in its duty, are doing something to bring wages for necessary works up toward the standard, and are thereby showing up the contrast in a certain degree. But it may require something more than a contrast of the kind to bring home to the Government, the cruelty of the policy which has influenced the latest relief pay cuts. They are utterly indefensible, and the public will sincerely sympathise with the unemployed in their efforts to have them restored at the earliest moment.