RELIEF OF UNEMPLOYMENT

Taranaki Daily News, 20 October 1930, Page 11

RELIEF OF UNEMPLOYMENT

ELTHAM SCHEME APPROVED.

CIRCULAR TO LOCAL BODIES.

The.scheme put forward by Mr. I. J. Bridger, Mayor of Eltham, for the relief of unemployment was considered by the finance committee of the Eltham Borough Council, which recommended that copies of the proposal be forwarded to all borough and county councils in New Zealand. This decision received endorsement from the full council at a meeting on Friday night. “Personally I ehall feel compensated if the scheme awakens some sense of responsibility on the part of the people and Government in regard to one of the most serious problems of the day,” said the Maydr in proposing that the report be adopted. Cr. Nairn congratulated Mr. Bridger on the proposals outlined and said that there was a lot of land within 30 miles of Eltham which could be utilised in the manner suggested. The present poll tax was not the way to remedy the problem and the “dole” was degrading, declared Cr. Ricketts, who also complimented the Mayor on the scheme, which he considered the best yet submitted. He stated that about 6000 boys left school each year and he could not see the advantage of giving the education an agricultural bias when there were few prospects on the land for the boys. One thing necessary for the success of a land settlement scheme was a sympathetic board to administer it. It was of little use killing it with red tape. The conditions of settling some of the returned soldiers on the land spelled disaster the day they weht on it. Cr. Thomas heartily -upported the scheme and said Parliament should put it into form. He considered that the policy of the land purchase boards had been wrong for the past -. 25 years. Prices were paid for land which were absurd at producing values, it being impossible for the land to produce the., amount of rates and interest required. It was a standing national disgrace for A young country like New Zealand to have to rate one section of the community to find work for the unemployed section.

The Mayor’s scheme seemed a very good one, said Cr. O’Hagan,, who suggested that a copy should be sent to the Unemployment Board. If might help that body to formulate its proposals. The Mayor thanked the councillors for their compliments and mentioned that the scheme appeared to.have general approval. The Right Hon. J. G.l ■Coates, Leader of the Opposition, had written approvr g of the plan in the following terms: —‘‘I am confident that if your ideas were given effect to the results as far as this country is concerned would be infinitely superior to any proposals or policy now being pursued. I wish to compliment you upon the amount of time and thought you have given to this important question.”