UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

Hawera Star, Volume L, 6 February 1931, Page 6

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

APPEAL TO* FARMERS. A further appeal to farmers to help in these times of distress amongst men who were unemployed, was made at the Fanners’ Union district executive meeting yesterday, by Mr. J. EL Campbell, organiser for tile local unemployment committee. He thanked members for the- opportunity of saying something about the terrible trouble of unemployment and urged farmers not to forget the- less fortunate men who could not get work and whose' plight- was pitiable. There were at "present, he said 171 registrations and this meant so many men and 412 dependants. The committee had so- far been able to find 1169 days work for 124 men and had paid out £4OO. Men were generally out- of work a considerable time before they registered. They reported each morning at 9 a.in. and work was portioned out, first to married men with dependants ancf the single man came behind everyone else. Mr. Campbell made a stiring appeal by picturing the heartireaking /position when a man went home and reported “no work to-day.” At most he said, men get two or three days a week, and told of a case where a man who had earned 28s one week ■wi to pay 7s for .school books for his children. Me referred to the new scheme No. 5 which would, he said, be advantage-, ous, but said that work must be found for men could not get ahead and pay arrears of rent. He took the opportunity of correcting the impression abroad that the men were “looking for work and praying they- would not get it’’ for he said, most of the men were jolly good workers, some of them having nreviouslv been in the same situation for many years and it was sheer misfortune "that they were out of work. ‘‘We want, you farmers,” said! Mr. Campbell in conclusion, “to solve a great 'problem. Times are hard, but if you can find work for any men on your farms, you will help yourselves as well as giving a band in the running of the country. I hope you wi’il all do votir best and induce your friends also to help to find work for these less fortunate men.”

Answering) a question re gor.se cutting and allowing a farmer time ill which, to pay, Air. Campbell said he considered it a good! suggestion and urged that the Government might well make advances to settlers to cover such work for it would improve the land and increase production. At present subsidy was paid only on wages actuallydisbursed. He added that so far he had been able to arrange transport for men to farms at a distance and he was sure that if the farmers would give the work the committee would arrange to vet- the men to it. Air. Carter said that if more men coulld he employed, it would be a fine thing and reproductive and a splendid idea. All should try to help to solve the problem. . The chairman said all appreciated the position as vividly pictured by Air. ham/hell and tlio latter thanked members for giving him the opportunity of -oeaking to thorn.