UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21980, 15 June 1933, Page 9

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

to tRe editor. Sir, —The recent rise in rabbit skina owing to the American demand ought to be food for thought to help in solving the unemployment question, j Best winter skins are now selling at llStl per lb, and the second grade at 96d per lb, and as about six skins go to the pound jt is a conservative value to estimate winter rabbit skins to be worth Is each. A good rabbiter on rabbit country could easily obtain at least 300 per week. This would be £ls, which is good wages. Of course, many inexperienced, men may not understand the art of poisoping and skinning rabbits, but that could be overcome by the Unemployment Board sending out an experienced liian with each gang. , It may interest your readers to know it has been estimated that, given good conditions, oue pair of rabbits in three years will increase to 13,000.000. —I am, etc., Bsrnard. Tripp. Timaru, June 12. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —The unemployed are starving for want of food, cold for want of clothing and firing, and disgusted at the powers that be for doing nothing but make statements such as “We are watching the position closely.” Is it Christian principle for thousands of people to be in want in a land that is supposed to be God’s own country? Rents and rates are getting behind, the health of our people is in danger, and vice is growing every day. When is it all going to end? When some man or organisation gets up and doing at once and does not wait for commissions and committees to ponder and waste time in months of planning. I suggest that New Zealand have a week of . self-denial. Let all the churches, dance halls, picture houses, and sports get_ together and contribute all their takings for one day or even one week and let the Government subsidise this fund, with which men could be given more work and, therefore, enabled to spend more money with the business people instead of being forced to go to depots, which really are crippling trade. I hope some abler person than myself will take this matter up and show the hows and wherefores by which this scheme could be carried out to the benefit of relief workers and business men alike.—l am. etc., June 12. Hopeful.