The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1933 UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 November 1933, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1933 UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF.

Till! serious curtailment of relief pay under No 5 Scheme, is drawing special attention to the operations of the Unemployment Board, The -general scheme of relief, and the efforts being attempted to meet the general situation, is now under heavier fire than it has been since .the inception. The' curtailment of the general relief which was afforded to the main body naturally affects a greater number, and the effect is more widely felt; hence the considerable range of protests being made. In tlie first instance, there was the special desire to help the general labourer, out of work, and No o Scheme was designed to that end. The bulk of the registered unemployed had been engaged under that scale, and the main part of the varied schemes in regard to farming operations, were brought in, .and much useful work has been carried out. Of late since the subsidy wages On building operations has been granted there has been a .reduction in the money for other schemes, and many of the men, especially those with families are having a very loan time. This is not an opportune period of the year to enforce the curtailment which is now being made. We are on the threshold of the . festive season, and some special ; consideration might be expected. It is true the Board has offered two week’s holiday on pay to those eligible, bub it will be at the reduced rate, practically little more than half of the former rates, so- that to grant the holiday pay the Board cuts the possible amount which may be received. The Government is collecting as much, if not more, in special taxation from the people for the. purpose of unemployment relief, so that on the score of revenue the lour bailment now being enforced is not justified. In the annual report of the Board, which has just been circulated, the numbers rather plumed themselves 011 the general record. We may take it when the report is discussed in Parliament shortly, the Board will learn at first-hand something of the popular opinion expressed through the people’s representatives. The matter perhaps arises at a more opportune time than otherwise, seeing that the House may now express its views, and that action should have a good effect. In particular, some thing should be done about a Special grant for Christmas, either by restoring the rate of pay to the former scale, or giving all eligible a special ■allowance. Action iof this .character specially in regard to families, would he humane, and go • a long way to allay the growing opposition to the lack of human treatment to those on the Board’s lists. Private Benevolence has done a» enormous amount throughout the Dominion in helping relief, but those channels are running dry, and with the extra taxation being raised more will be required from that source in fair and reasonable help to the unfortunate many out of regular employment. On the whole the country has been very tolerant of the general position, hut that has now been brought to light, and the niggardly pittance it is proposed to dole out to the unemployed, is stirring public coin ion, and there can be no doubt it is desired generally that a better deal should he forthcoming than is now designed in the amended scheme of relief.