"DOLE" IN BRITAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20740, 6 December 1930, Page 15

"DOLE" IN BRITAIN.

ABUSES OF THE SYSTEM.

LESSON FOR NEW ZEALAND. AUCKLANDER'S IMPRESSIONS. " Unless England does away with the pernicious 'dole' system, one can hold only a dismal view of her future," said Mr. It. McVeagh, who has just returned from a health trip to England aud the Continent. Mr. McVeagh said that of the countries he visited Franco showed the greatest signs of recovery from the effects of the war, while Italy was also in a sound position. " England's economic position is really deplorable," said Mr. McVeagh. " Gross abuses are perpetrated under tho 'dole' system, men and women deliberately abstaining from work in order to receive maintenance. " This accounted for the large number of unemployed persons, about 2,000,000, in Great Britain. On the other hand, France had only 870 on the unemployed register two months ago. Italy also was in a fortunate position as Mussolini had stipulated that the unemployed must work in order to obtain money. A large number of public works were in progress in Italy. v New Zealand should profit by the lesson, and care should be taken that no money is paid to an idle man," said Mr. McVeagh. " Once a beginning is made in paying the 'dole' the receiver loses all sense of self-respect and comes to look upon what is really charity as something to which he is entitled." France was now the richest country in Europe, this being due probably to the deflation of the currency, Mr. McVeagh said. While England struggled to maintain the value of her currency France had forced her creditors to accept repayment to the value of only 4s in the pound. The relationships between the Continental countries were not very cordial. Germany was well disposed toward England, but she displayed a great deal of bitterness toward France. There was no very great friendship between France and Itaiy, and it was evident that Mussolini was waiting his chance, should France become involved in international difliculty, to demand or seizo Tunis, now practically under French suzerainty.