UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21278, 3 September 1932, Page 8

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

The Prime Minister anticipates that the unemployment situation will be eased during the summer months, in which event the country may look forward to a possible reduction in the special taxation for relief. There is encouragement even in this guarded utterance, but the country is entitled to know much' more about the state of the unemployment fund and its allocation than has been made public. Such generalities as that it is being administered with the utmost care-arc not. enough. The heavy tax of one shilling in the pound was shouldered in wonderful spirit by the community because of the gravity of the emergency, but its readiness to bear the burdens of the distressed does not, give consent to a policy of ex- j treme reticence in regard to expenditure. The people have a right to periodical statements showing the income and the amount expended under each relief scheme. The withholding of the figures creates discontent and encourages doubt. Denied a financial statement it is impossible for the community to make an intelligent appreciation of Mr. Forbes' summer employment expectations and what they might mean in taxation easements. In regard to ordinary employment one point must be clearly realised —that relief is not allowed to take its place. In some directions that has been the. case. The strictest control is necessary to prevent unemployment being intensified in this manner. Another important duty is to reduce the number of men who under the No. 5 scheme are engaged in futilities about the towns. With the coming of summer there should be a resolute effort to transfer as many as possible to productive tasks in the country. In several places county councils have arranged work and erected accommodation, but have been unable to get the men. It would be well if Mr. Forbes made a tour of the No. 5 scheme jobs about Auckland to see for himself the uselessness ofmany of them.