UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19830, 20 June 1934, Page 5

UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM

CONSIDERATION BY ROTARY RECOMMENDATIONS BY COMMITTEE By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, June 19. Rotary in New Zealand set up a special committee in September last to make a survey of the unemployed situation and investigate the possibilities of promoting new and extending present industries in order to absorb the unemployed. The committee brought down an exhaustive report for consideration at the annual conference held in New Plymouth in March last, and as a result the committee was asked to further consider the question and take such steps to implement the decision arrived at that commended themselves to its judgment. The committee, which consisted of Rotarians T. C. List (governor of Rotary in the Dominion), Carle Vaile (Rotorua) Don Bryant (Hamilton), Olaf Holst (Wanganui), H. French (Hastings), W. G. Black and Fred Nathan (Palmerston North), J. McLeod (New Plymouth), and Sir Joseph Smith (Auckland), recently met in Palmerston North and again examined the situation in the light of recent developments and passed the following resolutions:— (1) "That the whole system of relief as at present carried on should be reconsidered as it is tending to perpetuate unemployment with its accompanying hardships and demoralising influence on the lives and attitude of the men and their families.” (2) "That unless planned work of a constructive nature is provided, the Dominion must permanently have the care of a big proportion of the present unemployed as well as having an increase in the number of young people on its hands.” To meet or to substantially mitigate the problems the committee recommends:— (3) The immediate adoption of a system of subsistence farming on lines successfully initiated in Napier and Hastings. (4) "The provision of farm training for boys by the establishment in suitable centres of modified Flock Houses, and the creation in the schools of ‘land mindedness’ amongst the rising generation.” Development of Resources. (5) "The development of our national resources comencing with:— (a) "Afforestating blocks of land alongside established communications that have gone back into second growth and coastal land that is now being overwhelmed by sand;

(b) "Goldmining on a comprehensive scale. (c) "Growing of selected flax. (d) "Extension of fishing industry. (e) "Tinning of foodstuffs now imported.” (6) "That active and adequate support be given to scientific research organisations in investigating the prospects and possibilities of other industries and extending present ones.” (7) "That if found necessary, temporary subsidies out of the Unemployment Funds be given to economically sound and promising existing or new industries, but that the granting of subsidies be conditional on due regard being paid to the effect on other industries and to the internal requirements of the public. To this end the committee suggests the setting up of an industrial board of development in order to co-ordinate the various industrial activities and to advise the Government.” (8) "That immediate attention be given to the necessity for the development of the tourist resources of the Dominion, and to this end suggests cooperation between the transportation (i.e., shipping, railways and motor services), and tourist agencies and hotels.” (9) "That efforts be made to find profitable work for women who are now contributing to the Unemployment Fund, and that consideration be given to making provision for the establishment of domestic training institutions in the various centres.” Bristol Scheme. (10) "That in the meantime it urges the adoption of the Bristol scheme, which aims at helping established trades to keep their work people employed and to putting money into circulation.” If the Government or the Unemployment Board decides to give effect to a programme following a co-ordinated national recovery plan along the lines suggested, Rotary in the Dominion offers its hearty support and co-opera-tion, but in the promotion of such a plan the committee desires to emphasise the importance of possessing vision of the ultimate objectives and the social importance of not allowing profits and material considerations to effect human values and the social well-being of the community.