SURPLUS LABOUR.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 12 July 1933, Page 6

SURPLUS LABOUR.

IDEAS FOR THE COMING CONFERENCE. THREE COUNTY DELEGATES APPOINTED. An invitation to be represented at the conference of the Levin Unemployment Committee and local bodies of the district, on July 19th, was received by the Horowhenua County Council on Saturday. COUNCIL'S RESPONSIBILITY. The Chairman (Mr G. A. Monk) said that the Council certainly had some, responsibility in the matter, inasmuch as the Act specified that the local body must be responsible for the employment of the men under No. 5 scheme. He did not know of any great public work that could be undertaken by the County. Most of the work where wholly labour was required had probably been completed. The question of a "Queen" Carnival, mentioned in the conference agenda, would be one for the committee when it met. As to the proposal to try to impress the Government again regarding the smallness of the allocation of relief money to the country districts as compared with the towns, there was a good deal in the complaint, and it should be taken up with the Board. With regard to the Jquestion whether sustenance &s provided for by the original Act should be substituted for relief Work, he understood that sustenance applied for a limited period, and that when people had had it for a certain number of weeks they went off the scheme. Was it not better to go to work in the first place and earn money? The Council, which was administering No. 5 Scheme in this district should be represented at the conference. As the ! distributor of payments amounting to over £3OO a week, the Council was certainly interested in it. THE FINANCIAL PROBLEM. Cr. Jensen said he would like to know what the Council's responsibility was. He assumed that the local bodies had no finance to assist with sehemes of work, as suggested in the agenda. The financial responsibility ought to be a national one. It would be an impossibility to provide money out of the rates to assist the unemployed. What could the Council do if it was represented at the conference? 1 AVERTING A DANGER. Cr. Gimblett thought that the Council should he represented. A conference of this sort might be aWe to do something to prevent the unemployed from isolating themselves from the puhlie of New Zealand. One could not help looking around and seeing what other local bodies were doing. While he felt proud of what the Council had done in looking after No. 5 scheme, which had gperated very well, still the force of circumstances was making it difficult for the men, because they were not getting anything over and above No. 5 scheme as it was first instituted. That fact was, perhaps, behind the minds of the conveners of the conference. To ask a married man -with two or three children to live on about 25s a week was suggestive that New Zealand, nationally or individually, was not playing the game. It seemed that in the midst of plenty there was want. It was difficult to say what powers the Council should give a delegate to the conference. He hoped that the County Chairman would be able to see his way to represent the Council there, and that he would he accompanied by any councillors who cared to go along. POSSIBLE NATIONAL SCHEMES. Two large works that could be undertaken if certain difficulties could be overcome were mentioned by Cr. Gimblett. One would be the raising of the highway between the Wirokino bridge and the high land on the Foxton side of the Manawatu River. He hoped to see that carried out someday, in preference to taking the road round the river-bank. He stood firmly with Mr J. K. Horn'blow, of Foxton, for the former scheme. . The next big work would foe the planting of the sanddunes along the coast. That would be a work of national importance. A conference such as was proposed should strain every nerve to help the relief workers to obtain some employment in the off-week so that they would have a reasonable chance of getting food. Cr. Gimblett moved that the Chairman be the official delegate and that he be accompanied by as many councillors as like to attend the conference. TROUBLE BECOMING CHRONIC. Cr. Atkins supported the sentiments expressed by Cr. Gimblett. "This thing," he said, "is dragging on from year to year, and it calls for the sym- . jjathy of everyone wlio is not so unfortunately, situated as the unemployed are. It has become almost an established institution in our nation. Personally I am not convinced that the economies at the head of things have been effected so as to give all the relief desired." The speaker believed that there were works that could be put in hand. The

tions which used.to generally prevail respecting it. They have given, the Sacraments their due place in the scheme of our holy religion, as contrasted with those who make them little lees than bare signs and symbols instead of channels.:' of regenerating and sanctifying grace.' Such testimony paid by one: not. looking back across decades, hut of their own times and day, paid by-brie who in the same pronouncement d£fcl£red he'dissented from their* is a tribute that testifies to'the wtffic df the .men of the movement and the ideals they had for themselves and their fellow priests."

straightening of the Manakau Stream was one that had -been mentioned previously, but he would go further and advocate the straightening of the Waikawa. He would ask the Engineer to accompany him and his colleague on rfin inspection of that locality. If the Waikawa Stream were straightened, .the opposition by certain residents lower down would be removed. Owing to the heavy rains this season, a large area of good land had been inundated for quite a period. [ " manawatu RIVER. With respect to the Wirokino flooding, Cr. Atkins asked if it would not be possible to straighten the Manawatu River. The raising of the road might be done, but the land would still be subject to flood. He added that thousands of pounds weekly were spent on scratching around footpaths. However big the suggested scheme might be, it would be preferable to messing about like the authorities were doing now in many case - ?. DIFFERENTIAL ALLOCATIONS. Or. Catley asked the reason for the difference between the town and country allocations for relief. Was it connected with the erst of living? The Chairman saiJ it was probably on. that account a«d also foecause the individual in the country town, was known to more people avi perhaps thus had the opportunity to obtain a certain amount of extra ~ork. The discrim-

ination was a burning question between: the country towns and the main towns,. A CALL IX) SACRIFICE. "I would be very happy to attend and to assist as much as possible,'/ the Chairman added, "I realise that, who ever represents tie Council will have no authority to spend County money. What we think this conference is for is probably to get suggestions for further help, and then probably representation can be made as to having, that work carried out. I think that the Council should be fully represented, and I would ..like to have the assistance of Crs.. .Gimblett and Atkins if they can see their way clear to attend. You cannot say. definitely what the County is prepared to do. The only .thing is for |the representatives to? go there and subsequently report back to the Couneil what has taken place, for ratification or any suggestions that will help. What we desire to do is to> help these people out of their 'difficulties, if we can; and there has to be some sacrifice. We know that the individual is being heavily taxed, but at the same time I realise that there must be some very deserving cases of people who v>on)*. like to work, but. for v.hom there no work." Cr. Gimblett withdrew his motion,, in favour of one . by the Chairman,. which was..seconded, by Cr. Coiquhoun-. and carried, that the Chairman and Crfe Gimblett and Atkins represent the.Council at the conference.