UNEMPLOYMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21347, 23 November 1932, Page 15

UNEMPLOYMENT

Sir. —I have road the loiter by Mr. (i. Moore in Saturday's Herald. To suggest that ;i relief worker is able to go to pictures, run cars, etc., and keep a family of at least four on £2 10s per week is down right stupidity. Your correspondent should also bear in inind that a man with a smaller family receives less wages. A married man with no children receives the large, sum of 37s 6(1 for a full week's work in a relief camp, out of which he must provide himself with food, at the same time keeping a homo for his wife in town. Mr. Moore states lie has a permanent job on a minimum wage, and is only just able to keep a roof over his head. If, as he infers, the relief worker is it! a better position than himself, I can assure him there arc only too many relief workers who would be willing to change places with him, and would at least appreciate a permanent job. 11. A. Smith.

Sir,—ln your issue of November 19 I read a letter signed by Geo. Moore, protesting against tlie Unemployment Board's intention of granting pay for holidays with no work in return. It is alrfiost inconceivable to think we have men in our midst who are in the fortunate position of being in regular employment protesting against the unfortunate relief worker receiving a Christmas box as promised. Mr. Moore slates that with a minimum wage, less Government tax, he can only keep a roof over his head. He did not state what his minimum wage was, but put it down at £3 10s per week, less, tax. If he cannot manage on the above amount, however would he exist on .£1 5s to £2 10s per week, according to the number of dependants, that is in the cities. In the country districts relief workers only receive from £4 10s to £6 per month—£7 at the most —also according to dependants. Your correspondent also hints at different relief workers engaging*, in various forms of recreation. Surely he is broadminded enough to recognise that the unfortunate relief workers are entitled to some little form of a change, probably at the expense of some of their generous friends, Mr. Moore finishes by saying he would be better off on the relief. Well, all I can say is, the. sooner the better, so that some relief worker may take his job, and I think at the end of three months he would prefer to go back to his own job, well and truly satisfied that the relief worker is far worse off than he is. P. Diggle. Dargavillc.