UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 175, 25 June 1932, Page 7

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF.

FUTURE REQUIREMENTS. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 24. Reference to the extra financial provision to the extent of £16,000 a week being made by the Government to deal with the unemployment position during the coming winter months was made by the Minister of Employment, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, during a speech at the Reform Club. In emphasising the growing seriousness of the position, Mr Coates said that, were it neoessary, he would not hesitate to call upon the taxpayers to provide additional funds.

Outlining the work already accomplished by the Government in the direction of providing employment, lie said that from 35,000 to 40,000 persons had been moved into the country, where tlieir work ultimately would be to tile benefit of New Zealand as a whole. It had been urged repeatedly that one of the ways of meeting New Zealand’s problems was by means of a back-to-tlre-land movement. That this was already, in being was shown by the fact that within the past five months 27,000 placements on the land had been made under one scheme alone.

“We should not be lacking in sympathy for those wlio are out of employment when they find fault with what is being done and what we are trying to do,” Mr Coates oontinued. “Their plight is a very real one and their outlook extremely difficult. They are sound at heart, and personally I am emphatic in saying that it is our duty to do our very utmost, not merely to provide them in a niggardly fashion with the barest means of sustenance, but to assist them to iho fullest extent of our ability. “Woe betide those who would threaten to pull down the institutions upon which our future prosperity depends, but to those who are trying and to those who are assisting them in their battle against adverse circumstances, I say; ‘Carry on.! “To those on the land I say frankly that the country cannot much longer stand up to the present exporting conditions, but we must brace ourselves and we will win tnrqugh ” In making provision for unemployment relief, continued Mr Coates, the Government had set about securing £3,600,000 from taxation. It had not found, however, that it was impossible to get through oil that amount. While he hoped that lie would not have to ask for more, if lie thought it right and necessary that more should be provided lie would not hesitate to ask the taxpayers to stand up to it. For the present it bad been decided to increase the amounts set aside to an extent that would enable the spending of another £16,000 a week at least during the next three months. Those who ware in need could take comfort from the fact that for the period mentioned this extra money would be available.