’SELF-HELP PLAN

Southland Times, Issue 21265, 11 December 1930, Page 6

’SELF-HELP PLAN

EFFORTS OF R.S.A. CRITICISM BY LABOUR SECRETARY HIS COUNCIL’S OBJECTION “As the R.S.A. eelf-help scheme has been examined from many different angles through the Press, I welcome the opportunity to explain and correct some of the statements which tend to mislead the public,” said Mr N. D. McKenzie, secretary of the Southland General Labourers’ Union, when discussing the scheme yesterday with a Times reporter. ‘The attitude taken up by the District Labour Council takes the form of an objection and although not connected with the R.S.A. it is very much concerned with the returned soldier wage-earner, and will do all in its power to see that he or any other worker is able to house, clothe and feed he and his family in some degree of comfort,” emphasized Mr McKenzie. “With this end in view it waited on the executive of the R.S.A. advising that a deputation was going to wait on the City Council regarding the employment of returned soldiers and requested that the association join and endeavour to get better conditions for the working men concerned. Had the deputation been strengthened by a member or members of the executive the matter would have not been put off, but dealt with at once.

"I personally know' that the R.S.A. had done yeoman service in finding work for the unemployed ‘digger’ and I am sure that the ‘diggers’ fully appreciate all that has been attempted, but -now when the self help scheme has proved a self denial scheme it is time that the executive exerted itself in improving conditions. I realize and appreciate the fact that the R.S.A. (as emphasized by Mr J. W. Puckey, its president) has no party allegiance and will not join in party propaganda, yet I fail to see that a breach of the rules would have occurred had the executive joined the deputation in attempting to improve the lot of the less fortunate returned soldier.

“The actual position is that the unemployed returned soldier to get employment must be willing to sacrifice one-sixth of his earnings and his labour is being used by the council at practically no cost to the city. All that is asked for of the city is that it pay for one day after receiving six days’ work. If the R.S.A. lets the matter drop then I am of the opinion that it fails in its duty to its members and is letting down the unfortunate unemployed ‘digger.’ However, the matter is referred to the Finance Committee and if the executive waits on it the sum, paltry to the city, but a matter of living and existing to the returned soldier, is sure to be found. Helping Others. “The Press has stated that by refunding a portion of his wages the relief worker was assisting another nine men into employment and Councillor Ball asked if objection were taken to the helping of others. If the Press and the councillors are under this impression I trust that my explanation will enlighten them and the public. The unfortunate worker under this scheme, besides paying his 30/- poll tax, hast to pay one day a week (£37 a year), to be allowed to work, and no unemployed is receiving one hour’s work through his sacrifice. If any movement is made through the channels of the Press to relieve the men of this burden every industrial organization in the city will be a willing helper. “Anyone who realizes that the returned soldier is, through war disability, becoming more or less a problem to the community as the years pass by, must, also realize that the war funds have to be carefully handled and protected until such time when no returned soldiers or their dependants are suffering through services rendered to the country. If some returned men are up against it at present, I think that the War Funds Association is doing well if it subsidizes £1 for £1 for wages, together with the other numerous calls which we hear nothing of. (It would be interesting to know what amount the War Funds Association has given to the City Council to pay for wages during the last few years.) At the present time the War Funds Association is subsidizing the amount the “Digger” is sacrificing, and the Government is subsidizing two to one on the total. The City Council is getting the benefit. What is the council contributing towards the work? Nothing. Question of Compulsion. “It has been stated that no one is compelled to sign the ‘promisory note.’ What happens if one does not sign it? Would anyone sign such an article if circumstances did not compel the signing? How many returned soldiers are on this work who have not signed? If there is one man on the job who was not compelled by circumstances to sign, then he should not be on the job. The digger has to take it or leave it, and if he does not take it he has nothing left to take. It is compulsion, and compulsion at the point of the bayonet. “ 'Man’s inhumanity to man.’ Not one of the men is content with his earnings and all would have supported the deputation to the council by being present if they were sure that no unpleasant results ' would follow. Knowing the gentlemen who. were being approached, I assured them all that no one would suffer and yet some 40 were too timid to put in an appearance, although they were there in spirit to a man. To keep his dogs in submission a shepherd does not leave too much meat on the bone at feeding time. At the present time the unemployed are starved into submission. ‘Take it or leave it.’ “Were it not for the city engineer and his staff giving the men every consideration, allowing them to work if at all possible and preparing work ahead, the average earnings would not be 7/- per day, and yet the rent, rates, meat and bread are the same price, if not dearer, as when the average wage was 18/- per day.”