UNEMPLOYMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18295, 12 July 1921, Page 2

UNEMPLOYMENT.

TO THE EBIXOB. Sir,— There was much to commend in the representations of the deputation to the Minister of Lands urging prosecution of public works to relieve unemployment, but I cannot agree with the request that war wages of 15s per day should be paid for this work. The Government’s offer of relief works at 12s per day is more reasonable, and I would go further than this and make the wages 8s per day, so that, instead of 200 being employed, work would at once be found for 300 men now seriously seeking employment. I would further suggest that county giants now on the estimates be prosecuted at tiiis figure, for, say, three winter months, work of national benefit being done while immediate' distress was being relieved. The Minister plainly said that not a penny would have been spent on these relief works, owing to financial tightness, but the object is to use other moneys for this purpose and so offer relief. My object in suggesting 8s per day is that tlie scheme would then serve the purpose it is sot up for, and persons only in direct need would apply for WB#k. At the wages of 12s now offered the pufljttts of the Government is being defeated. 'lo my knowledge several men already at work have applied to got on the relief works, the department having no chance of investigating their bona fide*. and they have even run after local members of Parliament to do what they could to get them on. It may seem strange when I say that these men have given up more remunerative occupations, but Government work always appeals even a t less pay for reasons that are obvious. The clock is carefully watched and so also is the “boss.” Labour loaders and politicians (with slender majorities now showing a heavy list to Labour) may not concur with my proposal, but niy opinion is that the sooner wo get back to norm 1,1 the better it will be for the whole community. • , The cost of production at present is suicidal. Take our railways, for instance. The returns for April and May last, for the South Island show a loss of £7771. The war bonus to employees, instead of ceasing, has noy. Ixicomc additional wages, and to pay this the public is treated to increased faros and freights, which .ire staggering, with tlie t fleet of restricting instead of encouraging traffic.—l am, etc., Frugal.