RURAL RELIEF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21494, 18 May 1933, Page 8

RURAL RELIEF

The new scheme of country relief employment which the Hon, A. Hamilton has in mind has several features to commend it. The first is that by making it possible for men to earn more than they can under the No. 5 scheme, there is an incentive for them to leave the towns and escape from an atmosphere that tends to destroy initiative. The second is that useful small-scale work on country roads is proposed. It may not be reproductive in the ordinary sense of the term, yet where it improves the transport facilities of farm lands the result cannot fail to be constructive. Another feature that makes it attractive is that groups of about a dozen are proposed and that buildings to provide sleeping quarters for this number as well as cooking and dining accommodation, all under one roof, will be erected instead of canvas camps, which do not always provide the necessary standard of comfort unless the occupants have the talent to make them so. Notwithstanding the objections so frequently expressed to country work for married men, there is no doubt that for camp jobs of this nature there will be no lack of applicants. It should be possible for men of like tastes to form groups which could be moved from place to place, comradeship helping all their members in adversity. On a piecework basis earnings of £3 a week will be possible, and seeing that no charge will be made for quarters,-the only living cost will be for rationing, which can be well done for nine shillings a week. The Minister's plan deserves the support of all who have the interests of the unemployed at heart. The men will benefit and the country will derive a direct advantage from their labour. Incidentally, the policy of constructing sound quarters will create employment in many directions. Mr. Hamilton anticipates that the Public Works Department will be able to subsidise in some measure the expenditure of the Unemployment Board upon the works in question. Presumaljly that department is in possession of some funds for the purpose. Certainly it could not use its limited resources in a better way.