SINGLE MEN AND UNEMPLOYMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22257, 9 May 1934, Page 2

SINGLE MEN AND UNEMPLOYMENT

TO THE LDITOK. Sib, —Your correspondent " Church Member " in your issue of the 30th ult., is not lacking in truth regarding the position of single men. Strange to say he blames the Government. Why? Business houses who, as he states, can pay a boy 15s a week are, to my mind, extremely short-sighted, and would rather lose business through being mean enough not to pay good money to men fully equipped and trained to handle their particular line of business. These men, where are they? On relief work of course. Then again, the churches! Are they doing the work of relieving distress properly and efficiently? They certainly have a very heavy burden to bear, but they do not complain, and are quite willing to carry on their wonderful work in spite of insults. If people were to attend church more regular they would find a greater measure of the guidance from the Sermon on the Mount than by sitting in a kinenia theatre with all its artificiality and its lack of comfort and encouragement to the hearts and minds of those suffering in these uncertain times. It is a sorry state of affairs when single men are singled out and insulted by those whose sense of responsibility toward them and their welfare is very narrow, and this lacking responsibility is a thing which should not be tolerated iu any British Dominion. Why are they being allowed to drift into a state of helpless uselessness? Are we to stand by and see the degeneration of the finest stock in the world? Our single men, don't forget, are the foundation on which a later generation of young hopefuls will be built. Just think this over seriously for 10 minutes! The church needs these young men; yes, urgently, and these young men need the church during the present crisis, to help each other towards a greater prosperity, and not to the meagre callous indifference of their fellowmeu. A good day's pay for a good day's work is all they want, and this would give them the encouragement they require, and they would take their places as citizens we could, be proud of, not only of New Zealand, but of the British Empire.—l am, etc., Silver Fern.