WORK-OR NO FOOD

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17436, 7 April 1931, Page 7

WORK-OR NO FOOD

QUEENSLAND'S SYSTEM RELIEF FOR UNEMPLOYED „ BRISBANE, March 23. What has been termed "the tyrant nous action ,o£ the Tory Government',' has been applied to - all able-bodied unemployed. They wil| he "givea work and cash payment for;"_ it_ instead .of rations.. Within a month the system will be extended "to the"' provincial towns, and later to the ■whole'State. In justice to the "bulk of the unemployed it should he Said.that they regard the change with favor. Qnly a few of tho trouble nial«*s-ate abusing the Government. Empldyinent is to bo given up. to. four days* in each week, and wages will bo paid in excess of the rations otherwise received. The term of employment in each week will be varied according to family responsibilities. At present men after 32 weeks of-relief work have to go idle for a time, which means drawing rations. As far as" possible the new system of part" time will be applied to the- districts in which men livo. The rate of pay is not yet announced, but the principle is to give enough work: and, .money for family maintenance. Thus 'the demoralising system of relief rations will be ended. The Brisbano City Council ' will, absorb 3300 of these intermittent workers, and it is believed that over the State the whole ofthe unemployed will be relieved. There .will .'bo no compulsion— Mt those who do not take the work offered will not he Jed. And one mav count upon a good many , who are congenially averse from work or havo been demoralised by the receipt of free, rations.