ENDING THE DOLE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18068, 20 April 1933, Page 7

ENDING THE DOLE

N.S.W. RELIEF SCHEME ■ T' . : MEN RUSHING WORK SYDNEY, April 11. The next few moiiths will probably bring about a change in the method of providing the unemployed with the means of living. By way of an experiment, with the consent of the Government, the Sutherland shire’is giving ■ <en work instead of the dole and payig them in cash much more than they would receive if they took coupons, and they are allowed to do what they like with the money, and it is .spent freely in the locality in which it is earned.

After two years of life without a pay envelope the men in the.locality are rushing the work, and were so happy, according to the last report, that they were working and singing in the rain. This disproves the contention that the vast majority of- those who are on the dole never want to work any more. The success of the scheme will 'probably lead to other local government bodies applying to the Government for grants and getting the local men to work.

There lias been a singular lack of, local organisation, the system dependng upon the Government to dp all that and a little more while the unemployed men sat down and waited for their number to be called. Sometimes when it was called they did not hear it, but there was always an excuse. As the men get to work and draw their pay others will get work also, and will contribute to the fund which, gives other men a chance to vork. The unemployed relief tax is growing, and the more it grows the Tea ter is the indication that the whole community is getting to work again. This method of doing work and taking the money instead of sitting down and waiting for the food to be brought to them is good training, for real work is sure to return sooner or later.