THE DOLE IN BRITAIN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17453, 30 December 1930, Page 6

THE DOLE IN BRITAIN

‘ ‘ARTIFICIAL STIMULATION' ’ REDUCTIONS TO BE MADE . EFFECT ON PRODUCE PRICES. The prices of New. Zealand primary products in the Home markets will be affected next year toy the reductions to be made in the amount expended on the payment of the unemployment - dole, according to Air. H. S. E. Turner, president of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, and Now Zealand manager for the New Zealand Refrigerating Co., Ltd., who returned toy the Rangitiki from a visit to England.

“New Zealand meat has had a wonderful market abroad this year,” said Air. Turner, “but that is only due to the dole, which has artificially stimulated,prices.. Next year the dole will be reduced, people will have less to spend, and that is going to affect the price of our meat, and not only our meat, but our butter and wool, too. The position of New Zoaland lamb at Home is' very remarkable. It has had a good run, partly because the people of England got used to it during; the wa>,; and so i developed a taste for it; and, partly because the Empire Ararkcting. Board has been pushing it. There .is a very fine patriotism, at.. Home. that expresses itself, just now. in',.' a : demand. frir Empire produce. AH the big shops in London are now selling Empire products, and over and over again I heard people in those * shops asking', ‘ls this Empire produce?’ That is a very encouraging sign. “For these reasons.” said Mr. Turner, “I do not think New Zealand lamb will return to pre-war prices, but it must be affected by the coming reduction in the dole. .When I think of the effect of the dfle in England I must- admit. I feel concerned about its recent introduction vp New Zealand. The idea of an unemployment levy is perfectly sound, but, in England they have been unable to provide proper safeguards, and it is now realised iha-, the benefit is being abused, and, no matter what Government is in power, will- have to be controlled. They have been spending about £100,000,090 a year on the dole, but next year it will be cut down to about £75,000,000. It is to bo hoped Now Zealand'will not fall into the same traps.” Air. Turner said he had. never seen England “with her tail down so far;” What was wrong with the Old Country more than anything else was lack of confidence. Happily, that was something that could, be' remedied. If only confidence was restored England would see as big a recovery as she made in 1920.