STORY OF THE DOLE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17610, 28 October 1931, Page 7

STORY OF THE DOLE

CONSTABLE WHO ERRED EXAMPLE OP COMMON SENSE It is said that a constable in a country district of New South. Wales who has erred by setting an example of common sense in the distribution of the dole will bo tried for his action. A Sydney correspondent says : “Common sense is not a State policy, and constables apparently must learn the fact, even though the lesson be one of extreme bitterness. It was thought by the man in the street that all members of the public service had been already appraised of the policy, but the scanty details so far received from the scene? of the alleged offence, Leadville, suggests that the police officer there was not in touch with Governmental opinion. “Leadville is an isolated township near a great deposit of silver-lead ore, which may yet be worked to general advantage. The story is that a resident of the district was offered a 'job at shearing, which was his occupation in the season, but he declined the honor. He was living comfortably on various moneys allowed by the State, including perhaps, child endowment, as well as the dole.

“The constable considered that, a job having been refused by tho man, he was justified in withdrawing the dole, and he did so. The shearer protested, and he got his member of Parliament to take flie matter up. The Chief Secretary, Mr Gosling, who was approached by the member, asked the commissioner of police to investigate the complaint, Citizens who pay the taxes which provide the dole have no doubt about the wisdom of the constable’s action. _ A police tribunal, however, may decide differently.”