WORK FOR ALL ABLE MEN.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 16 February 1931, Page 6

WORK FOR ALL ABLE MEN.

DESIRE OF THE BOARD. MEMBER MEETS LOCAL BODIES. “The wish of the Board is that no man able to work should remain idle.” In these words Mr p. J. Small, primary producers’ representative on the Unemployment Board, conveyed the earnest desire of the Board to a conference of the Levin Unemployment Committee and members of local bodies on .Saturday afternoon. The Mayor of Levin, Mr C. Blenkhom, presided. In introducing Mr Small, the Mayor said the purpose of his special visit was to give some further explanation of the No. 5 scheme, which it was hoped would help materially to solve the urgent problem of unemployment. Mr Small said he had travelled about a great deal recently, endeavouring to explain the board’s objective. Scheme No. 1 absorbed £34,000, whereas the amount originally proposed was £25,000. Nos. 2 and 3 schemes, £25,000 and £IO,OOO, followed. The work done was comparatively small, but it had the effect of finding a few shillings for many of the unemployed. It was quite plain that local bodies’ had exhausted their funds, and the unemployed had increased until last week the total reached between 17,000 and 18,000. A sutenance scheme, with work, was next tried, but it was not sufficient to provide the necessaries of life and did not relieve charitable aid boards. No. 5 scheme would not completely solve the problem, but it would at least ensure that everybody woul(J be provided with food. AN UNPRECEDENTED OFFER. The desire of the Board was to find work of a useful nature, no matter where it was. In making the offer of free labour to local bodies, the Board was aware that it had never before been done in New Zealand, and probably in no other country. The scheme was meeting with success and men on local committees were deserving of credit for their enthusiastic efforts towards this end. This scheme was to continue till March 31st. It was the wish of the Board that local bodies should co-operate in the effort to ensure that work was found for every man. The Board wanted no able man to be idle. . The County Clerk, Mr F. 11. Hudson, drew attention to difficulties experienced in regard to Natives who have no resources other than what they are able to earn by their own efforts. Until approved as contributors to the fund, Natives could not be taken in under the scheme. Mr Small undertook to place this matter before the Board. Answering a further inquiry, Mr Small said the Board aimed at employing first the men who had been out of work longest. Men who had been in regular employment for some years could stand a fortnight without work. Some of those present were surprised to learn that the unemployed must register every fortnight, it being considered that .few of the men weie aware of this. THE OLD DAYS AND NOW. Cr. F. J. Ryder (Horowhenua Coun- ' ty) said that in the old days men would take anything they could get. Nowadays there was a tendency to rush to the Government, and spoon-feed-ing had not had a good effect. There were to-day too many of the loafing type. Dishonesty and laziness created by being able to get the wherewithal without fighting for it was the cause of a great deal of the trouble. Mr Small said he did not wish to throw bricks at any particular section. All were in the same boat and must pull together. He spoke of the signs of evident comfortable means shown by the number of people who were able to enjoy amusements, but nevertheless 18,000 others were without work and were entitled to be (considered. It was everybody’s duty to assist in relieving the desperate position of these meii Hei v/entoiredi to ,predict that within the next few months thousands of men would be at work on reproduc-, tive development work. That was what the country wanted and that was what it would get. Continuing, Mr Small said that schemes 4a and 4b would probably be launched this month. The latter had in view the subsidising to the extent of 33 per cent, of contracts for scrubcutting, fencing, clearing, etc., and he was confident that it would be availed of to a considerable extent. He believed a very great deal of important work would be done by this means. Cabinet had not yet approved the scheme, but Mr Small did not anticipate any difficulty in that direction. Applications for something to be done in this way had come in freely from the South Island, so evidently there were some farmers able to find their two-thirds share of the contract. The Mayor thought greater use would be made of the offer if it were on a 50 —50 basis. He also suggested that farmers might be assisted in purchasing manures. Unless some help were forrthcoming, much smaller quantities of manure would be brought this year. Mr Small said the Governament might be prepared to do something in the matter of manures, but it was a mat-

ter beyond the jurisdiction of the Unemployment Board. Cr. A. J. Gimblett (Horowhenua County) expressed the opinion that the greatest problem to-day was the unemployed in the cities. There were many difficulties in taking men out into the country. He had hoped for some scheme that would be more of a remedy, and not a patching. Mr Small said the Board’s schemes would not solve the problem, but it did hope that in time many men would be settled in the country. Times were not always going to be as bad as at present. SECONDARY INDUSTRIES. The Mayor contended that there was a need to develop secondary .industries in order that those engaged therein might consume the products of the land. If we could produce oil it would prevent a great deal of money going to a country from which we received no benefit. Cr. Ryder asked if it were not a fact that less work and higher wages, owing to protection of secondary industries, were the cause of all the trouble. He stated that, in a certain plumbing job he had had done recently, the charges included 3s 6d an hour for labour. “Find me the farmer here who is getting that for his labour,’ ’ he said. Mr Small; “I believe if we go to extremes in cutting workers’ wages we will be making a rod for our own backs.’’ He did not believe in reducing the people to bedrock. Cr. C. P. Catley (Horowhenua County) : If high wages are a good thing, why is the worker so badly off to-day compared ■\Vith 30 years ago? Cr. Gimblett could not see the logic of continuing to pay high wages while primary produce was at such low rates. It was, he said, quite unreasonable for workers to contend tha4 they were entitled to the present high wages so long as prices were down, an,d the latter showed no signs of improving. GOOD' WORK BEING DONE. Mr G. A. Monk (County Chairman) returning to the subject of the Unemployment Board’s efforts, stated that, while he recognised that the schemes were only palliatives, he felt that good work was being done. The mere fact that the Board had so far avoided paying a straight-out dole was a step; up the ladder. He assured Mr Small' that the local bodies would continue to

do their utmost to assist the Board. He proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Small. The Mayor seconded the motion, asserting that they were greatly indebted to Mr Small and his colleagues for their' wonderful efforts to cope with the serious problem of unemployment. He was at first doubtful, of the value of the conference* but was now sure they were all agreed that a good work was being done. Replying; Mr Small said the job had not been an easy one. Many hindrances had been met with, but most of the troubles were over and he thought that from now on the Board would settle to its task. The present temporary -steps were absolutely essential, but hestrongly believed something of a morp useful nature would be done. He was pleased indeed at the wonderful reception he had met with all over the district, and was impressed with the sincere spirit shown by all in the desire to be of assistance to the unemployed.