CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 4872, 18 February 1933, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

(To the Editor)

Sir, —In view of the fact that the allocation for local relief work is so limited, and apparently there is no likelihood of it being increased, since all appeals bring no results, I would like, with vour permission, to make one or two suggestions to those who administer the Unemployment Board’s funds locally. It has been suggested in your columns recently that a more equal distribution of the available funds should lie made, with which I agree. I would suggest first of all that the men be classified as is done in many other places, chiefly the cities. Cut the B class men into three classes, namely: B class men with no children under 16 years; 81, men with one child; 82, men with 2 children. There ''seems to me to he no reason in the world why a man with a wife and two hefty children to feed and clothe should only receive the same amount of work as a man who only has himself and a wife to provide for. This rule could be carried still further and the C class man with, say, five children, could be given a little more work than the C class, man who has only three. I am quite aware that this would throw a lot more work on to the shoulders of our worthy postmaster and those associated with him in this work, hut what I have seen of them they would not mind that if they thought it would be of benefit to those who are unfortunate enough to be on the No. 5 scheme. Also, we in Foxton have watched with interest a hand of men, under fed in many cases, shift- a mountain of sand and level a site for (lie sack factory. Most of tliem have done this work cheerfully and have worked harder than any other relief workers in the Dominion. I am sure their capable foreman will hear me out in this statement. Now is the chance for the Directors of the company to show their appreciation of the good work done by the men by giving them all two or three days work out of their own funds. It would cost under £IOO to give them two days and well under £l5O to give each man three extra days’ work! It would be a graceful act- and would he applauded by the whole community. I appeal to the local gentleman who is a member of the directorate, to do all in his power to bring this about. It would not be a great sacrifice to the company but it would mean an awful lot to the men who are having such a struggle. Thanking you, Sir, for the privilege of so much space.—Yours etc.,

NOTAGOAT,