NEW SOUTH WALES RELIEF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21561, 4 August 1933, Page 8

NEW SOUTH WALES RELIEF

The Government of New South Wales has decided to continue for a year the system of providing unemployment relief through work instead of by "dole." The unemployment problems began to appear during the term of the Bavin Ministry, which recognised the evils likely to arise by issuing sustenance without any return being made by the recipients, and decided against the "dole" system. Work was provided for the few thousands of men who were out of employment. When the Lang Government came into power the system was promptly changed. The wages tax for relief purposes was increased from threepence to one shilling in the pound, and in less than two years 150,000 people were drawing the "dole." An increase in the amount was inevitable through this period, but there is no doubt that part of the huge rise was due to the fundamental defects of the system, which was seriously abused. Proof of this was shown when the Stevens Government gained control. Within nine months the number of recipients was reduced by 50,000. The revival of industrial confidence through the defeat of Mr. Lang brought about a new spirit of enterprise, which was reflected in more employment, but another factor was the check that was imposed on the exploitation of the fund. Some three or four months ago it was decided to revert to the system adopted by the Bavin Government, no sustenance being issued without a return in labour. As in New Zealand, municipalities and shires were asked to create relief employment for men in their own districts. The hours are leßs than in the Dominion, but bo

also is the scale of payment. A single man who, under the "dole" method obtained rations to the value of 5s a week is now paid 9s 4jd a week for six hours' work. Married men without children work ten hours and receive 15s 7d, and so on, men with six children working 22 hours for £l 14s 3d. The cabled statement that the Government will provide funds for 40,000 men suggests that a further substantial reduction has taken place in unemployment, or in the number of those on the register, which is-not necessarily the same thing in the State where Lang rule so recently scattered taxpayers' money so freely. ~