Relief Schemes Said to Undermine Character

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7270, 25 September 1933, Page 5

Relief Schemes Said to Undermine Character

AUCKLAND FARMER’S UNION SEEKING REMEDY FOR MEN

‘‘litking everyone will agree that the position is deplorable. Not only is money being wasted, but, what is more important, is tho depreciation of national character,” said Mr C. H. Mcllsop, president of the Auckland branch of the Farmers’ Union this week in speaking of the unemployed relief schemes.

Mr Mellsop suggested that a representative meeting of Auckland local bodies be held to discuss the position, in an endeavour to find an alternative. The spirit in which relief work was boing done w*as having a detrimental effect on the character and the working ability of the men. He instanced a case of tradesmen, who, after being put off because of shortage of orders, were re-engaged after a period of relief, and could not or would not do half the work they had done before. Unemployment was becoming a profession, and men would not accept work. He would rather seo men paid sustenance, and the “tomfoolery of pretence to work” stopped.

Other speakers agreed that the system of relief work was undermining character, and said that men could not be expected to put their heart into the task. Those who wanted to earn more in the time of contract work in the camp found that it was so averaged out that they were unable to do so. When tho present difficulty of obtaining farm labour was mentioned, Mr W. Boyd stated that it was obvious that relief workers would not be induced to take on harder work and longer hours for 10/ a week, which they could get in camp for doing practically nothing. The solution lay in the ability of the primary industries to pay reasonable wages. The demoralisation of tho people was the most urgent thing to consider. It was essential to get at the bottom of the trouble; the' Government was only tinkering with it. It was decided to take steps to call a conference, as suggested by Mr Mellsop.