RELIEF WORKERS’ PROTEST.

Southland Times, Issue 22106, 29 August 1933, Page 7

RELIEF WORKERS’ PROTEST.

To the Editor,

Sir, —I note by the report appearing in your edition of Monday morning regarding the public meeting called to protest against the treatment the relief workers arc receiving at the hands of the Unemployment Board that his Worship the Mayor of Invercargill stated that as far as he could see the business men of the city were not interested in the relief workers, otherwise they would have turned out in force and added their voices to the chorus of disapproval at the board’s action in reducing the relief workers’ allocation by four hours all round this week. Although the business community is hard hit by the depression and is even—many of them—not financial enough to contribute 6d a week to the Mayor’s relief fund, it might at least have shown a little sympathy for the relief worker by turning out and supporting him in his plea for enough to feed his wife and family. The business man who did not attend the meeting and heard the president of the relief workers’ organization’s statement of the living costs of an. unemployed man may study these figures and do some hard thinking. Married men with two children receive £1 5/- this week. Out of this he pays 15/- for rent, transport 1 1/6. The balance of 8/6 has to keep the home in fuel, lighting and food. Think that over, Mr Business man. As Mr Denham stated on Saturday evening the matter has got beyond politics and is a responsibility on the whole community and that also includes our Ministers’ Association, public bodies, chambers of commerce and every member of the community It even concerns the New Zealand Legion, representatives of which nonpolitical party were conspicuous by their absence on Saturday evening. I maintain, sir, that every minister of religion in the city should have raised his voice in condemnation of a system which permits people to exist in a state of semi-starvation amid an oversupply of the necessities of life. It would not have been out of order had a resolution similar to that passed at the public meeting been sent from every congregation and every assembly on Sunday, protesting at the treatment meted out to 900 families in this city and urging the Government to recognize its responsibilities. I admit, Sir, that our church organizations are doing a wonderful work with regard to the distribution of charity among the unemployed, but the men do not want charity. They would prefer our ministers to speak out fearlessly from their pulpits and condemn the cause and not tinker around distributing a little here and a little there. I hope some abler pen than mine will take this matter,up—l am, etc.,.

BRER RABBIT.