RELIEF SCHEME ABUSES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21296, 24 September 1932, Page 12

RELIEF SCHEME ABUSES

MEN WITH MOTOR-CARS PROTEST BY A FARMER THE BURDEN OF TAXATION KEEPING "THRIFTLESS PEOPLE" [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Friday A strong protest against tho employment on relief schemes of men who can afford to own and run motor-cars was voiced to-day by a prominent Matamata farmer. Ho gave the name of one man who was employed under tho No. 5 scheme on road work. This man owned an expensive Sedan motor-car, which _ he used for joy-riding each week-end. The farmer was of the opinion that lftost of the money the man received as sustenance allowance for tho work he did must bo spent on benzine. The farmer also referred to the case of another man who had been employed on tho No. 4A scheme, and who owned a motor-car. This man recently did two trips to Opotiki. His wife was in comfortable circumstances, and was a frequent visitor to Auckland. Mention was made of a young man whoso wages were subsidised by tho Unemployment Board who was able to run round on a motorcycle. The farmer said ho knew the men ho referred to very well, and regarded them as decent fellows personally. He protested, however, against a system which enabled them to receive relief money while they were able to enjoy the uso of motor-vehicles. Radio Sets Popular

Instances wore given of other peoplo who, while in receipt of relief, purchased radio sets. There wero many liard-work-ing farmers of his acquaintance who could not afford to register their motor-cars this year, and had to put up with a great deal of inconvenience in consequence, while he any many neighbouring farmers wero unable to instal radio sets. The irony of the position, ho said, was that theso farmers wero required to pay taxes which enabled tho abuses of the unemployment relief schemes to bo perpetuated. Ho contended that any person owning and using a motor-car was not entitled to relief in any form, and' he considered that 50 per cent of those receiving relief could now fend for themselves if they wero content to cut down luxuries such as motor-cars, pictures and liquor. Just as long as these abuses were allowed, ho said, would those earning incomes bo taxed to keep a herd of thriftless people in easy money. Offending Farmers

In answer to a question, the farmer acknowledged that the unemployed were not alone to blame for the abuse of the relief schemes, and ho admitted that numerous farmers had taken unfair advantage of tho system known as tho No. 4A scheme, which enabled them to secure labour which was subsidised by the Unemployment Board. lie said that in his locality only two farmers, including himself, had retained the employees that had been working for them before the depression set in. Wholesale dismissals of permanent employees had occurred, and subsidised relief labour had been taken on instead. Confirmation of this statement is supplied in the Labour Department's figures, which show that in the Matamata district no fewer than 80 4A contracts wero taken out. This figure was beaten at Otorohanga, where 160 farmers took advantage of the scheme. At To Aroha, where an efficient committee exercised careful supervision over the applications, only 12 4A contracts were made. During the last few weeks there has been a thorough investigation into all tho contracts, the Unemployment Board's officials insisting that the intention of the board should be carried out, and that relief labour should be employed on definitely developmental work and not "on the routine duties of tho farm. As a result of the investigation made at Matamata, a highly-developed farm district, the 80 4A contracts referred to have been reduced to two. Many of the farmers whoso labour had been subsidised by the board have agreed to keep the men on and to pay tho full wages themselves.