The Christchurch Star. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1930. RELIEF PROBLEMS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19238, 27 November 1930, Page 8

The Christchurch Star.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1930. RELIEF PROBLEMS.

PUBLISHED BY New Zealand Newspapers Ltd. Gloucester Street and Cathedral Square CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND. London Representatives: R. B. BRETT & SON NEW BRIDGE HOUSE, 30 34 NEW BRIDGE STREET LONDON, E.C.4.

TH'OR THE PURPOSE of relieving distress at Christmas and not, happily, as a precedent, the Unemployment ‘Board has agreed to pay £25,000 in subsidies for immediate relief work, the labour for which is to be engaged through Government Labour bureaus at a wage of 14s a day. In connection with such relief works too much emphasis cannot be laid on the necessity for useful undertakings. Mr J. S. Fletcher, M.P., of Auckland, has outlined a roading and sewering scheme for the development of a residential area outside the city, and work of such a nature is commendable. In Christchurch, the City Engineer should he asked to suggest alternative schemes of useful work, so that money shall not be frittered away as it has been, to a very large extent, on the riverside drive and other visionary projects. But the Unemployment Board will have to look beyond relief works for the alleviation or cure of unemployment, and in that connection Mr Fletcher has also made a valuable suggestion, namely, that the Flock House scheme should be applied in the direction of rural development in Auckland, Marlborough and Southland, in conjunction with the training of young New Zealanders who wash to go on the land. It is regrettable that so little has been done in the training of young New Zealanders, who invariably make the greatest success of work on the land.