MORE GENEROUS RELIEF.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19960, 19 November 1934, Page 6

MORE GENEROUS RELIEF.

Ministerial pronouncements conveying the information that the whole system of allocations for relief of distress due to unemployment, is to be liberalised, will be welcomed by all sections of the community. The Acting-Minister of Employment in an interview in the North Island on Saturday, stated that he hoped to announce some changes which will improve the lot of citizens obliged to rely on unemployment relief. “As a matter of sound principle,” the Minister said, “it is undesirable to bring unemployment relief benefits too close to earnings obtainable at normal employment.” Obviously the system of unemployment relief now in vogue in New Zealand will have to be immensely liberalised before the sound principle laid down by the Minister is violated. It is generally recognised that many worthy members of the Community who have been thrown on their own slender resources, through loss of employment, have not been enjoying a very happy time, despite the provision made by the State to relieve distress. If any proof of this were required, mere mention of the splendid efforts the community has made independent of the Government’s scheme, will furnish convincing evidence of the grave hardships suffered by many families, notwithstanding the provision made by the State. The Government, on its part, under its various relief schemes, will have to do a great deal more before there is any danger of unemployment relief benefit approaching within any distance of the monetary resources at the disposal of men in normal employment. Can it be said that during last winter no one went short of the necessaries of life? The constant demands that were made for increased allowances furnish the answer to this query. The Minister of Employment says that in addition to the increase in relief allocation that is proposed, it is hoped to bring about more uniformity in the method of calculating allocations. What is wanted, we think, is more organised generosity, particularly in view of the availability of an abundance of foodstuffs and other necessaries of life. In Germany, the Leader of the Nazis is embarking upon a bold and comprehensive campaign to fulfil the proud boast of Reichsfurher Hitler that “no German will be in hunger or be cold this winter.” The Nazis are determined that last winter’s shameful spectacle of the poorer quarters suffering intense hardship while other .members of the community enjoyed a comfortable and in some cases extravagant living, must not be repeated. The magnitude of the problem of unemployment relief in Germany can be realised when it is mentioned that 10,01 T,GSI persons received relief last year and the campaign for funds yielded £14,325,000. A mere glance at these figures reveals the inadequacy of the provision made in Germany to relieve distress. Outwardly in Germany, there appears little need for an internal campaign, but in spite of outward signs the belief is held in some quarters that this winter in Germany will be the crucial test of Hitlerism. The Minister of Employment in New Zealand is setting himself out to provide such additional relief that will ease to some extent the strain now being experienced, particularly by the less fortunate members of the community who are on the lower grades of allocation. This easing of the strain will be received with open arms. The Minister’s statement will be welcomed by the people, more particularly because there is a growing tendency to draw premature conclusions from the steadily improving economic conditions. The fact remains that a large section of the community is still in need of relief, but it is hoped that t»he more liberal system the Minister proposes to introduce will facilitate the complete reorganisation of the plan of local relief which can be very well purged by one or two somewhat unsound practices, without any lessening in the usefulness of the organisation.