UNEMPLOYMENT POSITION

Taranaki Daily News, 13 June 1930, Page 11

UNEMPLOYMENT POSITION

SEEKING WAYS AND MEANS.

RELIEF COMMITTEE MEETS. 4f We are here to deal with the present, not with the future, which we might safely leave in the hand? of the Government,” said Mr. P. E. Stainton, chairman of the New Plymouth Unemployment Relief Committee, which met yesterday. “We must find. the ways and means of bridging the present period of ' unemployment—and we must find them'quickly. Let us ..proceed with the business in hand/’

The chairman reported that the committee had found employment for 23 men on borough works, thus reducing the number of registered unemployed from 98 to 75. In addition casual work flueh as gardening had been found for several others. Mr. Stainton thought the committee should confine itself to employing only married men. There would be difficulty enough in finding relief for them and the few single men with aged parents to support. Mr." Brown: We must have some additional scheme for the unemployable. Although perhaps 95 per cent, of those out of work are good, sound and industrious when placed upon relief works, there is a small number almost unemployable. They must also receive consideration. At the present time they are placed in similar work to those who are fit but that arrangepient is unsatisfactory and cannot go on. They set a bad example and breed discontentment —-through no fault of their own. The other men, working hard and earning fully their 12s a day, see these men getting the same money for far Jess work. Apart from that factor, the unemployable are also a very disturbing element all round.” TREE-PLANTING SUGGESTED. The council was recommended that tree-planting bo started immediately in the Mangamahoc district. It was thought some of the men could Ire incorporated in this work if the suggestion were carried out. Following a meeting of the executive field on the morning of Juno 9 a letter was forwarded to the Minister of Labour asking that the Government consider making a special grant of £lOOO towards the alleviation of unemployment In New Plymouth. The letter stated the position in detail and enumerated the steps previously taken by residents of New Plymouth to help those out of work. In view of those special circumstances it was hoped the Government would sea its way clear to make the grant. .In reply to this Mr. Smith wrote that h? had appro,, bed tho Hon. Gr. W. jFo'rbCs on tho matter. He regretted .no

grant of that nature could be made. Tlie letter from Mr. Forbes, Minister of Finance, stated the Government fully appreciated the very successful efforts that had been made in the New Plymouth district in the past to meet the unemployment position. The Government realised the ’ difficulties in the way of local bodies providing funds to carry out the necessary local relief works. To relieve the position in this connection it had recently been decided to increase the subsidy on labour costs from £1 for £1 to £'2 for £1 in respect of unemployment relief works undertaken in urban and suburban districts. Regarding the application for a special grant of £lOOO, no exception could be made to the present method of subsidising the expenditure by local bodies bn wages incurred in unemployment relief works. Moreover, in view of the present financial position the Government was compelled rigidly to curtail any further expenditure. ' PLAN T-0 RAISE LOAN/ A letter was received from the Taranaki Workers’ Council which stated that, while that body was. in favour of a national scheme to deal with unemployment, it did not think a local contributing system would be as successful this year as < previously. The letter requested the committee to urge the Borough Council to raise a loan to relieve the position during tho winter. “The very best representations were made to the Minister of Finance upon receipt of your communication,” said Mr. Smith. “Some towns, like New Plymouth, have been seeking ways and means of solving a common problem and in that way following a sound policy of helping themselves. Others have been adhering to the idea of Government action and pressing claims that all monies devoted to unemployment relief should come out of national funds. Since 1928 the present Government has beeq doing everything possible to cope with the peculiar problems that face the country. Proposals are to be placed before the House next session which I believe will go a long way towards solving within a year or so the national unemployment problem. “What we must do now is to help those unfortunates out of work,” continued the Minister. “Great demands are being made upon the Government from all parts of the Dominion, but Mr. Forbes was greatly impressed by the efforts being made in New Plymouth to meet the situation as Mr. Stainton had placed full details before him. A special grant, however, would mean that every, locality would be immediately crying for similar concessions. No Government could possibly supply everyone with all the money for everything they required. I assure you that tho self-reliance of New Plymouth shall not be forgotten when more funds become available'. Finally, it should be known that the Government fully realises tho gravity of the situation.”