UNEMPLOYMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20496, 22 February 1930, Page 14

UNEMPLOYMENT.

Sir, —How is it we find such extraordinary blindness to the lessons which we in New Zealand could learn from the League of Nations' activities in regard to land settlement as a cure for unemployment ? A meeting of business men solemnly discussed the urgent problem of unemployment, and of insurance against it, with no result better than an adjournment of tho troublesome question for a month. They could not spend that month better than in serious study of the fine reports of the League of Nations regarding the successful efforts v.-ith the masses of refugees thrown on their hands after the war. In one of these tve read a detailed account of the settlement of over one million refugees, ill and beggared, who were ruthlessly driven from Turkey in 1923. The League at once launched a scherie for their permanent settlement tin the waste, barren lands of Macedonia. Dr. Nansen, aided by a committee of four experts in agriculture and organisation, and assisted by a loan from the League,, began tho work of developing this uninhabited million acres of land—later increased to two million acres. When the report was written, in 1923, some 143.000 families, representing nearly a million souls, had been settled on the soil, at a cost of about £6l per family. This expenditure includes Ihe cost of 60,000 dwellings, instructors, surveying, roading, water supply, animals, seeds, machinery and bare subsistence allowance. Also, it includes the provision of experimental and stud farms, health service, schools, dispensaries, irrigation schemes, and all things needful for the welfare of a country community. The report states that within four years this settlement had greatly benefited Greece. Normal imports-' of grain into the country rapidly diminished, till in 1928 it was obvious that the refugees were producing more than enough for their own support. Also, they developed the tobacco industry, which, by their efforts, has trebled, so" that bv this alone Greece hasi benefited by over 10 million pounds! The first refugees are now beginning to pay off their debt, and will soon own their own holding. Secondary industries are also benefiting, and Greece is flourishing as never before. What a lesson for us! In the face of such plain facts, dare any say that he "doubts whether land can be satisfactorily broken in even under superintendence by inexperienced men ?" L.O.N.U.

Sir, —On Thursday I attended a conference called by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce to discuss the unemployment problem. A paper was read by Mr. W. J. Holdsworth dealing with the proposal recently put forward by Mr. A. J. Hutchinson, with regard to unemployment insurance. Mr. Hutchinson has suggested that a more appropriate title for his scheme would be employment assurance, a title I introduced two years ago, and to which I consequently claim some proprietorship. There is a wide difference in the meaning of the two terms. Employment assurance implies a national policy, under which work is assured to those requiring it. The worker, thus relieved of the harrowing fear of unemployment, would enjoy better health, and have a brighter outlook. This should mean better work, and the removal of some of our social problems. The results, financial and social, would not only be more profitable, but more altruistic and economically sound. Mr. Hutchinson's scheme provides for weekly payments by the employee, the employer and the State, in return for which the insured obtains certain, benefits in the form of relief work at reduced rates of pay. The suggested contributions to the scheme, of 9d in the pound weekly, are estimated to produce £41,000 a week, or £2,132.000 per annum. Unemployment insurance in Great Britain has developed into what is likely to be the greatest obstacle to progress England has ever known. It has got her bv the throat, and is steadily sucking the life blood out of the nation. Is it any wonder that she is unable to pay the prices for our produce we have been in tlie habit of getting? The loss to this country is representing many millions of pounds, yet wa do nothing to relieve the situation. During the past 12 months, unemployment has cost this country certainly not loss than £750.000, and this drain on our resources is likely to continue for some time to come. A small contribution of Is a month from all persons over the age of 16 years would produce a fund equal to about £500.000 per annum toward an employment assurance scheme. Considerably less than this amount would be sufficient to provide work of a reproductive character for everyone, since every additional man for whom employment is found in the country means extra employment for one or two peoplo in the cities. The time has certainly arrived when palliatives should be replaced by a comprehensive and statesmanlike scheme for dealing with this problem. Geo. Finn.