“WHITE COLLAR” MEN

Taranaki Daily News, 20 February 1933, Page 5

“WHITE COLLAR” MEN

APPLICANTS FOR RELIEF. DEPRESSION IN CALIFORNIA. An investigation which shows that one out of every eight men registered as unemployed belongs to the “white-col-lar” class has been carried out in California. One aim of the inquiry was to answer the question, “Who are the destitute unemployed?” The conclusion reached are of wide interest They show that skilled and semi-skilled workers outnumber labourers by more than two to one. Engineers, printers, draughtsmen, clerks, salesmen and business managers are included, and it is believed that these men, who belong to the white-collar class, probably represent a higher proportion than is revealed in the registrations. Many have not disclosed their identity, some because of reticence, and others from fear that this may be a hindrance to their efforts to obtain other work. As applicants for relief they have preferred in many cases not to list their occupations on the unemployment registers. These men belong to the “new poor.” Their lack of means is a result of the depression, and the position in which they find themselves to-day is an indication that the slump has hit, probably in equal proportions, the labourers, the artisans and the professional classes. In California and elsewhere these people, who have never before suffered from unemployment, now swell the ranks of the idle. The situation created by the change in type of applicants for relief has made it necessary' for social workers to turn their efforts in a new direction. Evidence given before the Californian State Unemployment Commission last year showed that white-collar workers, men. and women who had held office and clerical positions, and also home owners, were visiting the relief agencies in increasing numbers. They had exhausted all their resources, had used up their savings and insurance policies, and had mortgaged or sold whatever property they possessed before they could bring themselves to ask for assistance. The opinion was expressed by some representatives of welfare organisations that even if conditions soon improved the pressure from applicants of this type would continue for several years. Because of the reluctance of members of this group to accept charity they presented one of the most serious problems with which the agencies had to deal. This was stated to be the case particularly with women of the white-collar type. They would go to almost any length before they would ask for relief.