UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 April 1930, Page 8

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF.

There is-everything to commend in the decision of the New Plymouth Borough Council so to organise the public works it has in hand as to provide as far as possible for those who would otherwise be unemployed during the winter months. Ur. Stainton, who brought the matter before the'council, has had wide experience in local relief work and knows the value of preparation for any emergencies -there may be lying ahead. His suggestion met with the sympathy of the whole council and is sure to have the support of the ratepayers also. 'Che limitation of relief work to bona fide residents of the town and district is quite a necessary precaution, particularly in view of the fact that the works now under way are of considerable magnitude. They are being paid for by ratepayers of the district, and it is only fair that those ratepayers should bo relieved, wherever possible, of the additional burden of providing relief works for local unemployed. The foresight suggested to the borough council ’might well be imitated by private’ employers. ;In many households there is work that must be done before long if properties are to be improved or even kept in a proper state of maintenance. A little consideration might make a good deal of this work available during the winter months and thereby assist relief organisations in finding employment for those genuinely in need of it. Fortunately there is reason for hojie’ that conditions in the dairy industry will be less depressed than seemed likely at one time. That in itself should make more employment available and assist in easing the position throughout the province. Preparation for an. emergency is no sign of panic. On the contrary it very often prevents the difficulty it- is intended to cope with and certainly leaves a problem less thorny t® grapple with. There will be a general hope that this may- prove the case in regard to unemployment during the coming winter.