UNEMPLOYMENT BOARD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 270, 14 October 1932, Page 12

UNEMPLOYMENT BOARD

OPERATIONS CONDEMNED. A public meeting, convened by the Palmerston North Labour Representation Committee, was held in the Opera House last night to protest against the schemes inaugurated by the Unemployment Board. There was a good attendance, Mr R. S. Watson (non. secretary of the committee) presiding. Others on the stage were Mr J. Hodgens, president of the Labour Representation Committee; Mr K.. C. Anderson, of the Wellington New Economic Research Association; Messrs J. H. Dixon and A. A. Yule, of the Palmerston North Home Protection League; Mr H. Schrieber, of Rongotea; and Mr V. A. Christensen, of Palmerston North. Tho chairman explained that the purpose of the meeting was to protest against the “unjust and immoral schemes of the Unemployment Board.” He read a letter of a.pology for absence from the Mayor and stated that invitations to be present had been issued, including those to ministers of religion, and representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, Farmers’ Union, Luncheon Club, Rotary Club and the R.S.A. He also read a letter received from Mr A. Hinrichsen, of the- Church of Christ, regretting that he was unable to be present, and stating that he was against the reduction of the sustenance allowances and against men being forced into camps. In addition, the speaker read an apology for absence from Ensign Thorne, of the Salvation Army, stating that he was definitely opposed to the conscription of young men into camps. Mr Dixon, of the Home Protection League, with, lie said, a membership of 300, stated that he believed the members of the Unemployment Committee were doing their best for the unemployed of Palmerston North, but they had only a certain amount of money. It seemed that the Unemployment Board could do what it liked. On several occasions deputations had gone from Palmerston North to Wellington and had received certain promises from the board which had not been carried out. They desired to protest against the unequal distribution of the additional £16,000 promised by Mr Coates which, he said, went to the four centres. Also, they should protest against the reduction in the allowance which was now only 10s per day. He considered that the landlords should help in the protest, for if the relief workers had a reasonable allowance they could pay tlieir rent every week. If Palmerston North had been treated the same as the cities, they would have received another £6OO a week, which would have gone to the business people who should be behind their protest. Mr Yule referred to the increase in the number of unemployed and said the Unemployment Board should be changed. The conditions of the camps at Waipatiki and Paraparaumu were spoken of and also the remuneration paid. If it were possible they should keep every single man out of camp. It was stated that the Unemployment Board was concentrating on the married men, hut the Minister had said in the House that it should not cause any particular hardship if married men had to go into camp. Mr Yule then moved as follows: —“That this meeting of citizens of Palmerston North calls upon the -Government to abolish the system of coercing single and married into camps thereby destroying the home influence and the right of free citizenship.” The motion was agreed to unanimously. Mr Schrieber stated that it was high time something was done to eliminate the dissatisfaction at present existing. Four years ago men were getting 16s a day for road work, now they were getting 10s a week. The No." 5 scheme was costing £3.000,000 a year. There was talk of lack of finance, hut Britain was borrowing £150,000,000 at two per cent. If they borrowed £5.000,000 a year for four years and lent it to employers they would get more production. The interest and sinking fund could also be lent, and the money put into circulation. He suggested that a committee be appointed to draft a scheme for submission to the Government. The next speaker was Mr Hodgens, who stated that he was the most disillusioned man in Palmerston North. They had sent out 32 invitations to people in Palmerston North who said thev were interested in the welfare of the’ people, including 16 to members of the cloth, but there was not one of them on the platform. Referring to the camps, the speaker said there seemed to he no distinction made regarding a man’s responsibilities. If a war started to-morrow there would be no difficulty in finding the millions necessary,' vet when there was an economic war, as at present, there was no money to be had. The speaker criticised the working of the No. 10 scheme and the maniver in which the funds were being expended. Notwithstanding the increased production, they had 75.000 unemployed If in 192 S it was possible to pay ererv man a living age, it was possible to do it now. They had to bring the monov back into circulation and the onlv ’way to do that was to pay ererv person a decent wage. \[ r Christensen said the Government had “out-legislated” every Governmentthat had brought- in class legislation. recent vears the problem of production had been solved, hut they had not solved the problem of distribution The sneaker spoke of the wearth or Xerv Zealand, and said that the'Government relief schemes had merely put. more men out of work. He moved

as follows: —“That this representative meeting of responsible citizens of Palmerston North calls on the Government to abolish the unemployed and other schemes which are based on a world of scarcity, and to formulate a scheme based on the actual facts, namely, a world of surplus wealth and potential wealth. That, in the opinion of this meeting, the policy of reduced sustenance, wages cuts and deflation generally has aggravated the incidence of unemployment and, if continued, will destroy the social and economic life of New Zealand.” . _ This was carried without dissent. Mr Hodgens then moved as follows: “That this meeting of citizens of Palmerston North demands the immediate abolition of the Unemployment Board for they have shown: (1) That they cannot evolve a definite policy of sound and reproductive work as each and everyone of their schemes has added to the number of unemployed. (2) That they have treated the four centres better than the rest of the Dominion, yet the revenue of the board is collected on a uniform scale over the whole Dominion. (3) That the meagre allowance to the unemployed is most demoralising and degrading, and will take years to stamp out of our national life. (4) That with 75,000 men out of work we have 300,000 potential consumers deprived of their normal purchasing capacity. If the 75,000 men received, say, £4 per week every penny would go back into circulation and we would have the 300,000 extra consumers and a settled and better business for all. (5) That we are of opinion that- the taxing of those who are working and giving it to companies, trusts and large private organisations is tantamount to serfdom, and will not be tolerated by the democracy of this Dominion. (6) That the Unemployment Board must be definitely told to get out.”

This was also carried and it was de cided that the resolutions be forward*} to the Prime Minister, the Minister for Labour, the Leader of the Opposition, and the member for the district. Mr Anderson contended that the cause of the present trouble was the shortage of money. He said that the financial interests controlled the production and distribution of goods, and he claimed that the present economic system was not sufficient for present dav needs. Sir R. S. Redward moved “that this meeting of citizens of Palmerston North regrets the apparent indifference of the ministers of this town towards the unemployed as evidenced by their absence from this meeting.” This was seconded by Mr Hodgens and carried. The meeting terminated with the usual vote of thanks to the chairman>