UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

Taranaki Daily News, 4 August 1930, Page 10

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

PROTEST BY FARMERS' UNION. CRITICISM OF THE BILL, Objection to the Unemployment Relief Bill in ita present form on the grounds of ite being in the nature of a dole and not universal in application was taken by members of the Stratford sub-provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union at the monthly meeting on Saturday. 1 Discussion w«6 promoted when a remit from- the Huiroa branch was read objecting strenuously to the Unemployment Insurance Bill in its present form and urging the union to protest at once as the Bill would encourage country workers to move off the land into the towns, thus increasing unemployment. The branch suggested that the Government might'encourage farmers to employ labour by subsidising workers’ wages during the winter months. There would then be a. tendency for the excess workers, in the towns to seek employment in the country. “The Huiroa farmers are definitely opposed to anything in the nature of a dole,” said Mr. J. Wood. The suggestion to subsidise the wages of farm workers would have a productive reedit, while relief works in the towns would consist mainly of cleaning streets and beautifying —work that was neither essential nor productive of any direct benefit.

The union was fully alive to the problem and was already lining its influence in tiie direction indicated by the Huiroa remit, said Mr. C. J. Harris, vice-presi-dent of the North Taranaki executiye'. Members could rent assured that the union would do its utmost.

Mr. T. T. Murray (Toko) said that if the Government were to subsidise tJie wages of farm workers under a relief system it should also subsidise the! wages of industrial workers in a similar manner. Mr. Wood: That would accentuate the trend to the towns.

While not objecting to the suggestion contained in the remit Mr. H. A. Hunt said that were it adopted by the Government farmers would dismiss their permanent employees m favour of an unemployed man whofee wages would be subsidised. The remit, was carried.

The second phase of the discussion was introduced by Mr. Hunt, who said that under the Bill a certain section of the community would be exempted from the annual payment of £1 10s. If wage-earners were to be taxed at all then they should all be taxed alike, irrespective of who employed them. “I object to this flat rate whether ail sections of the community are included or not,” said the chairman (Mr. M. G. Trotter). “If we are going to have this flat rate everyone should pay,” said Mr. L. Marfell.

Mr. Hunt moved that in the event of t' e Bill being carried it should be made universal • in application, but the motion did not meet with unanimous approval on the grounds tliat it was not sufficiently definite and was capable of a wide range of interpretations. Finally the following amendment was carried: “That in the event of the Bill being passed all sections of the male community be compelled to contribute.” PERSONAL ITEMS. The members of the Eltham Pipe Band on .Friday evening offered felicitations to Piper L.* J-. Gower on his approaching marriage, and presented him with a handsome barometer. Mr. J. L. Campbell (president) made the presentation, expressing high appreciation of Piper Gower’s services to the band. Mr. R. A. Martin has been elected unopposed to fill the vacancy oil the Eltham Drainage Board, caused by the resignation of Mr. A. Cocker. GENERAL ITEMS. On Thursday evening the Bawhitiroa fortnightly euchre party was held. The ladies’ prize was won by Miss E. Cocker, and the men’s prize, after a play-off with Mr. R. Stewart, went to Mr, J. Foreman. After the card-playing, the hall was cleared for dancing, Mr. Austin supplying the music. To raise funds towards defraying the cost of the heating installation in the Stratford primary school a celebrity vaudeville entertainment will be staged by Stratford amateurs in the Stratford Town Hall on Tuesday, August 19, when a bright programme of songs, sketches, dances, duets and ballets should delight a large audience. A wealth of variety, tune and colour is offered by the many carefully selected items, so that there will not be a dull moment from the rise of the curtain. 'Not for many years has a local variety entertainment of such merit been presented in Stratford, and added to this, the worthy object of the concert renders it deserving of support. The admission prices are within reach of all—3s., 2s. and Is. —so that parents and others should not begrude giving their whole-hearted support, remembering that any sum raised carries a Government subsidy. Additional particulars will be published later. The bridge over the Kapur, i stream on the Eltham-Opunake Road will be closed for traffic from 8 a.m. to-day until further notice. The Eltham County Council requests the travelling public to observe the notices at the intersections of the Lower Duthie and Palmer Roads for information as to detour roads. •PRINCESS OF POPPYLAND. To-morrow night at the Town Hall, Manaia, the Kaponga Amateur Theatrical Society wifi present the uiirthful and musical operetta Princess of I 'Poppyland. The operetta ran two nights | at Kaponga and a return performance is already discussed. The company consists of 49 adults performers and the production was received by a crowded house on both nights. At Manaia the ' society is donating part of the proceeds to a special charity effort of the Women’s ' Division of the Farmers’ Union, and a capacity house is anticipated.