UNEMPLOYMENT SOLUTION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18265, 7 December 1933, Page 11

UNEMPLOYMENT SOLUTION

POSSIBILITIES ON LAND FOLLOW DENMARK’S LEAD PLACING BOYS ON FARMS The place of Rotary in finding some solution to tho unemployment problem was referred to by the district governor for New Zealand, Rotarian T. C. last-, in an address to Gisborne Kotarians at today’s luncheon. Mr. List referred to the avenue of employment on the land for boys, and pointed to a lead set by Denmark in ISO 6, when tlm Danes were faced with the prospect of finding an outlet lor 15,000 surplus farmers. The work of placing boys on farms was also referred to, and the Gisborne Rotary-Y.M.C.A. organisation congratulated on their splendid endeavors. Prior to the district governor’s address, Rotarian Howard kemvay reported that to date the Rotary-Y.M.C.A. organisation in Gisborne had found 517 jobs for hoys, mainly on farms, and it was in tho position of having more jobs than boys to till them. In his address, Air. List said that in going round New Zealand he was impressed with the work the various Rotary clubs were doing, not only as clubs, but also community and social work, as well as interesting themselves in the various problems confronting tlio country to-day. It was pleasing to see Rotarians applying themselves to work that must bn a distinct value to the community. CREDITABLE 1» E RFOJIMANC E The placing of so many hoys in positions by the Gisborne organisation was a creditable performance, and lie congratulated Rotarian Kenway and his organisation, lie did not find it the usual experience to lie. able to place all the boys offering and then lie looking for more. Other -districts were not in so fortunate a position. In Auckland the Diocesan Board, in conjunction with Mr. J. B. Smith, Was doing a valuable work in trying out boys, and the Rotary Club was doing a great service in finding and often creating openings for boys, so that they would he able to occupy their minds instead of being forced on to the streets or remaining another year at school.

Farmers in {lre* Auckland district were beginning to realise if lie value of boys on their farms, and I lie present circumstances were dealing a new condition of mind. They were responding, .and co-operating to find work for the boys on the land. As with Auckland, so it was with Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

He often wondered if what. Rotary was doing was appreciated sufficiently. Rotarians did not want, the notoriety, nor were they seeking any of the credit, for their work went along quietly, hut he could say -that Rotary was doing a lot to foster the right spirit among the community. Then* was a condition of mind arising in the country that should not bo there unless some steps were taken to counteract it. This was one result of the unemployment problem, .which came upon us almost in a night. Many people were satisfied with the present state of affairs, but he believed that something more constructive should be attempted. A conference at Palmerston North had reviewed the position, and he was satisfied that when the various sections of a scheme being evolved were ready for presentation there should be something that would be of great benefit and would offer at least a partial solution of the problem. (OPPORTUNITIES FOR A FFf)R EST A - TION Much more use might be made of our marginal lands, he said. In Taranaki, 20 per cent of the best lands were not being farmed .sufficiently,-and a lot could be done for the benefit of the State with tree growing. While on ,a visit to Germany a few years ago, he was impressed with the afforestation in the southern States, where as many men were employed its in farming. There should be better opportunities for afforestation in New Zealand, for in Germany it took trees 80 or 00 years to mature, while in New Zealand trees that would be suitable for timber could mature in 23 to 30 years. Some of the southern States in Germany were rate free as a result of the growing and cutting of timber. Many of the lands that were reverting to unwanted growths could bo used to. produce a national benefit ,aud find work for thousands of men.

New Zealand must look to the future development of the land, Mr. List went on. Farming of the future must he regarded as sustenance farming rather than mixed farming or speculative farming. In 1906 Denmark was faced with the necessity of placing 15,000 extra farmers, and all these were settled on the land without any ultimate cost to the country. What Denmark did then could be done in Now Zealand, too. Rotary was also engaged in providing sustenance lor crippled children, a work that he felt Rotary ought to do, not spasmodically, hut as a continuous process. There wore 5000 crippled children in the Dominion, and this total was being! added to at the rate of 500 a year. Flo asked the clubs throughout New Zealand to assist those handicapped children by each Rotarian making himself a big .brother to a crippled child in his locality. In the United Slates it_ was a major activity, and very satisfactory results had been achieved. In this plan, each Rotarian made himself responsible for the welfare of some handicapped child in his neighborhood, and lie hoped that in New Zealand, too, it would become a major activity for Rotary clubs.