SCHEME 4B CONTRACT

Southland Times, Issue 24055, 20 February 1940, Page 3

SCHEME 4B CONTRACT

To The Editor Sir, —A man I know has been offered a Scheme 4B contract. This scheme has certain commendable features, but there are aspects that betray the hand of the hypocrite or the tyrant. As an example let us take this man’s case: He is the father of six children. He had a hard struggle to keep his family during the depression, but his position does not appear to be any better now. He finds that £2 at that time would go as far as £4 now. He was put out of work at a minute’s notice and was forced to take sustenance. (Incidentally, when sustenance was granted him he was automatically deprived of 16/- a week family benefit.) This man intimated to the powers that be in the Social Security Department that sustenance would be of little use to him, upon which he was offered this contract.

The contract price was ridiculously low. having been assessed by a man who had never dug a ditch in his life. But our man was a trier. He toiled as others had toiled before him, and, like these others, he sank deeper and deeper into debt. He was beaten, not by the

job, but by the bungling, unreasonable officialdom that put him there. Perhaps this case presents a problem that may be solved by Mr Savage (as he sees it) in one of his Sunday broadcasts. In conclusion let me say that this man is ready and willing to take on any contract, but surely he should have some say about the price and conditions under which he has to work.—Yours, etc., FREEDOM. February 17, 1940.