PUBLIC WORKS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 197, 19 July 1935, Page 16

PUBLIC WORKS.

FOR UNEMPLOYED RELIEF. A DIFFICULT PROBLEM. The question of public works as a measure for the relief of unemployed was dealt with by Air W. Bromley, deputy-chairman of the Unemployment Board, when addressing the Dannevirke Rotary Club to-day. “It is not enough,” he said, “to blandly pass resolutions calling upon the State to organise major public works. What major public works are thought of? AVhat are to be the conditions of employment on these public works? Are they to be financed from levenue or from loan moneys? If from loan money, must the job be one that will produce additional new revenue sufficient to meet interest and sinking fund? Would the creation of public works at present help our unemployment problem in the cities, or would it create a new employment problem in the country? “That last question is prompted by past experience. During the whole of last summer there were over 150 jobs without workers in Central Otago. As the board v r as finding some of the cost, the jobs were reserved at the request of the board for unemployed city workers. You can surely remember some of the trouble. It was alleged that to send men from the cities was breaking up the homes, and the strongest support on all sides was given to the men who refused to accept the work when offered. Whilst this was taking place, scores of applications were received from country workers offering to man the jobs. When the summer was drawing to a close, the absolute preference for city workers was withdrawn, and the jobs were filled immediately. Since then we have heard no complaints from the public works, but farmers are complaining that labour cannot be obtained for the essential work of the farm. Recently a reporter produced for my comments a whole column of advertisements offering employment as farm hands. In so far as wages were stated, none offered as much as is given to a maron scheme sin the cities. When thinking in terms of public works which must be in the country in relationship to our city unemployed, the wider vision should be applied.”