UNEMPLOYMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20964, 1 March 1930, Page 20

UNEMPLOYMENT.

THE GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSIBILITY.

ADDRESSES BY LABOUR MEMBERS. (Special to Daily Tikes.) CHRISTCHURCH, February 28. That there was absolutely no need for unemployment in New Zealand, and that the problem was one that could easily be solved by tbe Government if it wished to do so were points stressed by Messrs E. J. Howard, M.P., and H. T. Armstrong, M.P., who addressed a meeting of unemployed in the Trades Hall today. The ■ meeting was attended by about 100 men. It was stated by one of those present that there were at least 600 men out of work in Christchurch. “ There is only one organisation which can tackle the problem, and that is the Government,” said Mr Howard. “ You are told that this problem exists in all countries, but the conditions in those countries are not the same. When Sir Joseph Ward said in the House that he could clear the country of unemployment in five weeks I sincerely think he meant it. He had a scheme. However, he then became ill. We did not see any more of him in the H* se, and' he was unable to put his scheme into operation.” Mr Howard asserted that the scheme was not stopped by Sir Joseph Ward himself, but by someone else. Mr Armstrong said that his party had done everything possible to force the hands of the Government to do what it had promised to do, but it had done no more than “ the other crowd.” Money had been spent on useless work, and work that was not justified. A Government that did this should not be allowed*" to remain in power for five minutes. “ The remedy for unemployment is to reduce the hours of work,” said Mr Armstrong. “The increase in the army of parasites is mainly the cause of so much poverty in this country. What we have got to fight for is better distribution of goods produced, but when you sound that note you are a ' dangerous agitator.’ We are spending £1,000,000 every year on a comic opera territorial system, and this sum would put all the unemployed in jobs. The Government could pat on 1000 men to-morrow if it wanted to.” At the conclusion of the meeting the speakers were thanked for their addresses.

gorse-cutting for UNEMPLOYED.

MOVEMENT BY TAIEBI COUNTY COUNCIL. At the Taieri County Council yesterday a letter was read from the Minister of Public Works (Mr E. A. Ransom) regarding subsidising the cutting of gorse on roadlines with a view to providing work for the unemployed as well as having the gorse removed. This matter had been introduced by Cr Stevenson, writing to the Minister. He explained his reasons for writing, as the council was near to the city. He did not agree with the condition stipulated, and suggested that the subsidy should he paid hy the propertyowner. It would he unfair to use the funds of the council for the subsidy. He had written to the Minister on certain lines and had received a reply that the suggestion would be considered. The letter from the Minister contained the following conditions:— “ The district engineer, who had h'tcn asked to Investigate the matter, had reported that some 15 to 20 miles of roads on the hills behind Green Island a,nd around the Kaikorai Valley were so badly infested with gorse that the portions used fay traffic were the only parts not covered with heavy growth. The question of granting some assistance to the council in order that it might undertake the clearing of some of the roads as a relief work had been reconsidered at a meeting of the Cabinet Employment Committee; and he had been authorised to inform them that the Government was prepared to sub-' sidise the work on a £1 for £1 basis up to £SOO on the following conditions; 1. That a brief specification, estimate and schedule of roads on which the work was to he undertaken were to he submitted to and approved by the district engineer before clearing was commenced. ■

2. That the work was to be carried out on the co-operative contract system by small parties of men at rates to be approved by the district engineer. 3. That only unemployed married men engaged through the Government Labour Bureau were to be given employment. 4. That the County Council would give a written assurance under seal and in pursuance of a special resolution to keep the cleared roads free of growth in future.

Cr Stevenson urged that the conditions be amended as follows;—Each ratepayer to be responsible for clearing the gorse from the roads opposite and adjoining his own property to the centre of the road. That could be done either by letting co-operative contracts or by day labour. If it were decided* to do the work by co-operative contract then the ratepayers whom the contract relieved of gorse from the road would have to find the '£l for fl to have the work done. That the ratepayers Telle , f b y g° rse being removed from the roads adjoining their property by the above grants, give the Government an undertaking to keep the said roads free of gorse in future to the satisfaction of the Government noxious weeds inspector. If the Cabinet Unemployment Committee could see its way to amend its suggestion as indicated by him, then there should be a chance ot having something done.