RELIEF WORKS

Hokitika Guardian, 10 February 1934, Page 5

RELIEF WORKS

POLICY IN N.Z.

STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER.

IPer Press Association Copyright.) , AUCKLAND, February 9. “Tho Government is responsible for carrying out a policy fo r the welfare of the people, as a whole,?’ ,said the ' Prime Minister, when declaring the (Royal Show open’; “Ii the Government guided its , policy according to the discontent that it has encountered, the country' would soon /, be tin the ditch.” . v : . t.' He would guarantee that even the malcontents could not pass legislation to please everybody. In the country districts, the complaint was common that they could not get men to do work offering, fie heard that dozens of times. In' the.' oLies, Uic was told, there, was no work for men to do .'in the country. The : Government .was blamed for making condition's, so .- easy in cities that men’ would not go ’into the country to work. In the cides lie was to’d they making conditions so hard that men could riot liyjv It was hal’d to draw a lino between these statements. . A

“However, we are endeavouring wi-h the funds at our. disposal, to do our best for those with whom we have so much sympathy,” said 'Air Forbes.' “Every penny of the £4,ooo,cec-,are raising is being expended.” • No country was'doing its task more thoroughly, he said, and no, people were putting their hands in their pockets to' the same extent. 1 . ■ " -. .

The Government could not be charged, therefore, with not doing their best. Schemes to provide work were all designed to give the best value for the money spent, and to aid men as much as ppssiblc. It had often been said the Government . had had to do many unpleasant things owing,. to financial stringency,y but he thought. .it could he-claimed it‘did Tibt sit down and do nothing. y'y A;.:;vY.vyV. ~ ■ ~ii * .* '<,/'■ N.Z. POPULATION INCREASE. WELLINGTON,, February 9. ' During, the quarter ended. December -13, 1933,- • the population* of' the Dominion showed aii; - inere'se of ; 61'43 compared wij;li ah' increase of 6628 during the .corresponding .-quarter,' of ’1932. j.