Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, FRIDAY, SFPT. l5, 1933. UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18194, 15 September 1933, Page 6

Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, FRIDAY, SFPT. 15, 1933. UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

A very definite statement that tho Unemployment Board .would not grant any increase in the allocations .now being made for relief work was, made by the deputy-chairman, Air.- .Tessep, during a visit, to Eltha.m this week On the contrary, he.intimated that i acre was a possibility of reduced amounts being available during the summer. Air. .Tessep explained that further assistance could not be granted without making" heavier demands upon the taxpayers, and pointed out. that to provide an additional day's work per week for every man registered as unemployed would cost another £1.800,000 per annum. It is a pity that members of the board do not go a little further out of their way to explain to the public, and particularly to those who are dependent upon relief works for .sustenance, that the measure of assistance they grant, is governed, not by the extent of their sympathy with the unemployed, but, solely by the funds available. In some centres there has developed a feeling that the hoard is unnecessarily antagonistic and inclined to deal harshly with the committe.es which are directly responsible for the dispensation of relief, and this could largely be overcome if a little more patienee were shown in smoothing out misunderstandings and stating : facts a little more clearly. In the first place, it must be recognised that the board’s income is limited by Act of Parliament, and if tho board distriuutes its funds equitably in proportion to the number of men requiring relief in each area that is the most that can be expected of it in this connection. If the income remains the same, and the number of unemployed increases, then it, is obvious that the amount available for each individual must be reduced. If, on the other hand, there are fewer men making claims upon the board, then it should be possible to be a little* more liberal iri the grants that are made. It has been found necessary, of course, to strike a balance between winter and summer adorations, an over-expenditure of funds when unemployment is at its peak being compensated' for by ft saving when seasonal occupations arc in full swing. It will be generally ail milled that the Individual earnings of the men, especially those with families to support, are pitifully meagre, but. it is difficult; to see how they can be increased unless there is either a substantial diminution in numbers or

an increase in the board’s revenue, wmeh means an increase in the unemployment tax. Mr. Jossep has not exaggerated the position when he says that the country cannot stand more taxation for relief purposes; and it is not a case of willingness to pay more, but of ability to do so. The present wage tax is the heaviest of its kind in the world, and any attempt to increase it would inevitably have undesirable effects. It is possible, of course, that: the board’s revenue could be increased by this means, but it is certain that the number of persons dependent upon the funds would also increase, and the net result would be that the amount available per nead of the registered unemployed would be less than it is at present. The other alternative -ore the board is to reduce the number of unemployed, and, although it tin" not met with a great degree of success in this direction, this has beer its constant aim. In this connection Mr. Jessep stated at Eltham that lie could cite any number of cases where men had refused useful work, profering to remain on tne No. f> scheme. Here is evidence that there'are some men who are abusing flic relief funds, and. in consequence, arc reducing the amounts available for those who are genuinely unable to secure work. It has been asserted, also, that there are many men receiving relief who are in a position to maintain them selves, and the most serious aspect of this is not, perhaps, the fact that they are defrauding tlu* .Slate, but that; they are depriving others., who are really distressed, of a little extra money. ’lnis is one aspect of the problem to which the board might devote a little closer attention. It. is to lie hoped, and there is some reason to believe, that with the, passing of the winter the worst phase of the unemployment problem has been overcome, but it. is clear that the board will be required for some considerable lime yet. L has had many difficulties to contend with, and constructive efforts have been handicapped by the ever-press-ing need of meeting immediate requirements, but once a defiuito reduc

tion. in the number of unemployed is made an improvement should be comparatively rapid. In the meantime, the board is undoubtedly entitled to credit for the able manner in which it has dealt with what must rank as Inc most, difficult economic question ot ad time, for, whatever its failings, and however inadequate its dispensation of relief may have been, the outstanding facts remain that its organisation has been more complete, and its scale of relief on a higher basis, than in any other country in the whole world.