DANGER OF DOLE

Taranaki Daily News, 24 September 1930, Page 9

DANGER OF DOLE

THE UNEMPLOYMENT BILL MEASURE IN UPPER HOUSE ADVERSE MOTION MOVED STRONG OPPOSITION VOICED By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Moving a. committal of tlie Unemployment Bill in the Legislative Council today, the Acting-Leader, the Hon. R. Masters, said the Bill might not be perfect, but he was sure every member would be sincerely desirous of helping to relieve the unemployment problem. Unemployment was a national responsibility and called for the serious consideration of everybody. The Bill would make for a more scientific distribution of the load on the taxpayers. New Zealand had a great deal of seasonal employment, continued Air. blasters, and that had aggravated the position, as had the introduction of machinery and the drop which had taken place in the value of the country’s produce. The amount of the levy was not nearly as large as that provided for in the Australian States and elsewhere. No one would receive sustenance as a right, and in that respect the legislation differed from that of other countries. It had to be remembered that New Zealand was already paying large amounts in sustenance through charitable aid boards. The Hon. W. Earnshaw moved as an amendment that the Bill should be read after the expiry of six months. The principles underlying the Bill were opposed to those on which the British Empire was founded, he said. The Bill was absolutely political in character, and it was futile to say anything else. The object of the Bill was to relieve the suffering of those in need of sustenance either through their own fault or through no fault of their own. He had been a working man all his life and was not -opposing the Bill on political grounds, but for the reason that he knew the Bill was one of the most dangerous that could possibly be introduced into the legislature. The dole would do nothing but create a class of men and women who would not work. He could not understand the Reform and United parties ’ playing into the hands of those who believed in Alarxian theories and Soviet principles. Air. Earnshaw strongly criticised the action of the Government in paying 14s. wages on relief works. He expressed the strongest disapproval of the levy and said the people should be given an opportunity of expressing their opinion regarding it. The 'amendment was seconded by the Hon. W. H. Triggs, who said the Bill was altogether based on wrong principles. The Government had failed to diagnose the unemployment complaint properly, and to administer the right medicine. He doubted whether the board proposed under the Bill could produce the goods. Sustenance payments would have a demoralising effect on the workers. At 5 o’clock the debate was adjourned.