MORE RELIEF WORKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23015, 18 April 1938, Page 8

MORE RELIEF WORKS

Those who have accepted at its face value the statement of the Minister of Labour that "the Dominion is back to normal so far as unemployment is concerned," may he surprised to read Mr. Armstrong's further statement this morning concerning the organisation of winter relief works by local bodies. From this it appears that the position is not so normal that the Government can dispense with artificial aids to support the labour market. Mr. Armstrong certainly does well to arrange in advance the relief measures he expects will be necessary, but his optimistic statements may have left many local bodies psychologically unprepared to answer a renewed appeal to do their part. Mr. Armstrong proposes to visit local bodies in the North Island in order to stimulate relief activities. They will be within their rights if, before pledging more of the ratepayers' money, they demand a statement of the need. If, apart from the unemployable, there are only 6695 out of work (the latest official figure), local bodies may question the necessity for making calls on them. They co-operated willingly in bad times, but the present are supposed to be normal. Mr. Armstrong says that "the unemployed number one per cent of the total population, or 3.6 per cent of the adult male population, easily the lowest in any country in the world." But he is forced to qualify this by pointing out that the Government is still providing full-time work for the unemployed and those so provided for are not included in the official return. Mr. Armstrong should go further and disclose the numbers involved. Otherwise the public cannot obtain a true picture of the employment position, nor can local bodies realise the need for their continued cooperation. Incidentally the Employment Promotion Fund supporting the men on relief works will be abolished on March 31 next, raising the further question as to how relief works will be financed after that date. Certainly the Government will not command so large a fund to subsidise public and relief works.