UNEMPLOYED RELIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20504, 4 March 1930, Page 5

UNEMPLOYED RELIEF.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE.

AGREEMENT WITH FINDINGS. TRIAL OF SCHEME ADVOCATED. [by telegbaph.—own correspondent.] WELLINGTON, Monday. Interviewed to-day concerning the recommendations of the Special Committee appointed by the Government to investigate unemployment, the Hon. T. Shailer Weston, M.L.C., made the following remarks. In making them, he said, he w?,e not speaking as president of the New Zealand Employers' Federation. The advisoryboard of that federation had not yefc considered the report, nor had the executive committees of the various associations. He was not speaking either as a politician, but simply as an individual. Men out of work and those dependent upon them could not be allowed to starve, said Mr. Weston. The problem was to find the best and most economical solution. Above all, if the present standard of living—whether of the worker, farmer, professional man, tradesman or manufacturer-r-was to be maintained, the cost of relief must be more carefully watched. Administration and Finance. On two points the committee was to b» congratulated. Firstly, it had recognised that the question was a national one, to be dealt with by a committee of men representing all sections of the community, arid not by a particular political party. No political party in any country in the world, whatever its hopes, had as yet solved this problem. Its difficulties would be better appreciated if djsv covered and realised by a national committee.

If 6uch ii committee, for instance, found from practical experience that unemployment must not be made so attractive as to draw labour from ordinary avenues of employment, its opinion would, no doubt, carry more weight with all sections of . the community. Such a committee should have assistance from all Government departments open to it, but in its ■ administrations it should, as far as possible, be free from Government interference.

Secondly, as to the finance required, it was better to put this on a systematic basis. Everyone was concerned in the problem. The poll tax suggested meant less than 3d a week for women and 4£d a week for males over 18. Most men and women would gladly contribute voluntarily. This amount provided one-half of the funds. The other half would be found by a special income tax levy and a corresponding land tax levy, and, finally, a subsidy from the Consolidated Fund, tgji ' Whole Country Interested. This migh mean a contribution of £1 or even of £3 a week by the more fortunate, yet even these contributors would give willingly if satisfied of the necessity of the appeal and of the judicious expenditure of the funds raised by keeping the unemployment relief fund distinct in this way, and by providing that everyone should make %ome contribution, however small, the whole country would be interested in its administration *d would know at once what the relief was actually costing. At present unemployment relief was .costing the Dominion over £1,000,000 a year, and this amount was steadily growing. No one knew the exact figures, as they, were to some extent obscured by being part of loan expenditure. It was true the scheme entailed additional and special taxation, but the amount secured in this way should mean a corresponding relief for the Consolidated Fund, and unless the Government required increased revenue for other purposes it should bs counterbalanced by an equivalent decrease in general taxation. The committee was entitled to great credit for 'the thought and work put into the; . inquiry, and its recommendations, even though unpalatable to some, should be given a trial. Certainly the national committee should not be content merely to set up a system of "sustenance payments. Its great aim should be to discuss and develop avenues of employment for surplus labour available when other avenues were slack.