LOCAL BODY REPORT

Hokitika Guardian, 3 May 1934, Page 5

LOCAL BODY REPORT

RECOVERY PLANS MANY CONDITIONS ENUMERATED (Per Press Association — Copyright) . - AUCKLAND, May 2. ,; A)f ter nearly five months’ consideration, the committee set up by the conference of local bodies and others interested, Jigs submitted h- report. It declares that - the present system of relief j ? not satisfactory and not in the community’s best interests, and recommends the unemployed, pending re-absOrption into ; industry; should be granted sustenance;.,payment..on a-scale laid down ’• in. the .original actvbf 1930, and throughout .the, whole period of their disemployment.-^ ; ,Step s should be taken to -‘-restore trade union conditions- and constructive'.-work should be carried out- tat standard?)rates; of pay. As it seems impossible to ' find employment for alUjjivorkers in land development, a place/ must be found for a great number of. unemployed in secondary industries..) A full advan■age- should ■ b etaken of most modem machinery in all industries, and hours of labour adjusted in accordance with the amount of labour displaced by machines. . An/, eoanomic land ' settlement , policy should be ~inaugurated on lines of village and group settlement, and new industries established to absorb boys and girl a leaving school. , The committee declares .., that the first step toward recovery is to increase the; purchasing power,which can be done by , finding useful and profitable work in primary and secondary industries! and recommends an immediate-economic survey to determine .what are the! possibilities of maintaining • or ifiiprqving the standard of living for people of New Zealand, . /apart from A. exchange of produce overseas.- -• vu'W- j jV-;; ;.

To give; immediate• relief locally, the committee recommcndf' - the issue of municipal crklit"iidtes -to .the - amount of 25 per cent, of the ordinary expenditure of municipal' authorities. It strongly ..urged that .Parliament-.should hold'' a ’ special ; Sessibh' or devote the greater part ,of next r session to ,unemployment.; 7