The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 1927. UNEMPLOYMENT

Southland Times, Issue 20207, 18 June 1927, Page 6

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 1927. UNEMPLOYMENT

The Mayor is to be congratulated on the expedition he has shown in taking up the unemployment question. From the conference in Wellington, there issued the fact that the Prime Minister had agreed to subsidise voluntary subscriptions to provide work for the unemployed. This seemed to throw the onus of providing work for the unemployed on those citizens who were able to make donations, and to leave the establishment of relief work by the municipalities rather in doubt. The Mayor’s discussions with Mr Coates, however, have cleared up the position, 'and made it clear that municipalities which undertake definite relief work will be helped by the Government. At the present time Invercargill has a number of men on relief works, but, of course, the situation is not so acute as it is in the north. Southland is extremely fortunate in this, but there is enough unemployment to justify the Mayor’s activities. It is stated that the Town Engineer can provide relief work for a number of men if he can obtain £4,200. It should be possible to obtain this sum, but it is unwise to venture into any suggestive reference to this subject until the Mayor has definitely announced the policy he proposes to follow in connection with the financing of relief works. At first it looked as if he had only one choice, but the telegram he has received from Mr Coates opens up other avenues and we think the Town Council should adopt a certain policy in this matter and push it vigorously. The winter is young yet and the demand for relief work will be heavy until the spring is with us again, Therefore, it is necessary that the corporation should have a policy which will carry its activities through these bad months. Hand to mouth methods are the most expensive in the end, and they are not influential for the men they are intended to help. Uncertainty is a terrible thing for any worker at this time. It is better that they should know they will be in steady work for a period long enough to tide them over the months of slackness. In this way they are reconciled to the work they are doing and the public, which has to foot the bill in the long run, obtains better value for the expenditure it undertakes. It is essential that men doing relief work should feel that they are doing useful work, and that they are really earning the pay they receive. The Government has laid down its policy in regard to pay, but as long as the corporation keeps a keen eye on the rise and fall of the demand for workers outside of the relief activities it seems to us desirable that the municipality should not appear to be reaping an advantage out of the misfortunes of these men. There are powerful arguments available to those who support the policy of paying less than the standard wage—among them the fact that some of the men are unsuited to the tasks to which they are set, and also that it is desirable to have men on relief for as short a time as possible. Where a public body is undertaking this effort to help the unemployed, however, we think it should keep clear of any suggestion of reaping an advantage for itself, but at the same time it should make sure that it is in no way competing with private people who are in need of labour and are willing to pay the standard wages. It seems to us that the Mayor is handling the situation effectively, but we think the people would welcome from him and from the council a statement of policy in this connection.