HELP FOR THE UNEMPLOYED.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19666, 7 December 1933, Page 6

HELP FOR THE UNEMPLOYED.

1 To the Editor of " The Tlm&ru Herald " Sir—lt has often appealed to me that the Unemployment Board, or those in authority, have forgotten that supply and demand are measures known n the labour market, similar to the commercial or producing market of corn, vegetables, etc. Further the Unemployment Board seems to have written presumably the words “thou shalt not earn more than what we give you.' across the so-called relief labour machine. This is having its effect j with those who employ voluntary labour. in that, in many cases, they will not give any more than relief labour rates, which is tantamount to assess* i mg standard labour pay on the same | basis as relief work, with the exception I of awards. Now. sir, I contend that ’hat is the wrong way of encouraging men to look for work. Further, the I Unemployment Board curtails their maximum days of relief for every day • tc.. that a man or his wife work at j any other job voluntary. Now that ’.s a penalty for looking for work, cspecl* j ally when the ratio at present given is | practically a starvation wage. rent ■ food and clothes, etc., having to be j met. and in many cases this is an lm- ! no.sMbillty. Surely the Unemployment H ard oMild. with their safeguard U.B. inrm. allow ea< h single man an extra ■ iv 'including food or board. If provided by the employer free of wages • »\ or !ng> or married man. with or

without children, to earn the same amount} as the maximum in each party’s case, provided by the Unemployment Board (including food or board free of wages tax), or say the single men having 10- allotted them; allow' them 10/- plus any food or board, provided free of tax without docking; the married men, say, two days, etc.. allotted, let them earn voluntary another two days free of tax on board, and a man with one child, three days voluntary work (free of tax on board), and so on as per scale. Working basis.—Wage tax on a week or part thereof, board to be exclusive. The principle of this suggested arrangement would be to alleviate hardship, induce employers to employ without penalising the worker as under the present system of relief employment, increase the turnover of wholesalers, retailers, etc., in all kinds of industry, which is urgently required. There is no inducement to look for work on the worker’s part, no inducement for employers to employ, while the worker is practically barred from earning over the allotted amount set down in unemployment relief scale. The foregoing suggestion would assist materially in encouraging the employer to employ, and the worker to work, and in the aggregate, many now’ employed on relief work would be brought back to their respective trades, and the wheels of industry begin to turn faster; the moral atmosphere would be raised somewhat, anxiety in homes would be relieved, goods bought that cannot be bought now under die present system, and relief societies would cease to exist as at present constituted.

Example—soo men, married and single, on relief scale, given extra work voluntary every week, wuthout any deduction by the Unemployment Board, would reduce their numbers automatically in a very short time because they would buy more; the retailers would benefit and want more hands; manufacturers would want more, also ships would carry more cargo and require more staff, and altogether work would given with greater ease by employers than at present. The w'orker would oe happier, and good results would follow; further, the Government would the sooner be able to release or relieve, in part at any rate, wages tax, sales tax. and so on. The tax for board or meals on employees is iniquitous; it is paying royalty for living. It is no wonder that those on relief at present are content to look for their names on the board at the Labour Office, as there is no need of doing anything else when the "thou shalt not earn over your allotted days set apart for you without being docked" is in existence.—l am. etc., RATEPAYER. Timaru, December 6.