TRIAL FOR DOLE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 492, 29 June 1932, Page 1

TRIAL FOR DOLE.

Labour Economist Reviews Position. ENGLISH SYSTEM FAVOURED. The opinion that straight-out sustenance payments to the unemployed in New Zealand should be given a trial, Avas expressed this morning by Mr G. Manning, secretary of the Workers* Educational Association, in commenting on the remarks made at Monday’s meeting of the Citizens’ Unemployment Relief Committee by Mr G. Maginness. The latter contended that the present system of relief Avould do away with many avenues of employment when the economic position brightened; that sustenance payments should be made without requiring work in return; and that unemployed men Avho were reabsorbed in industry at a Avage lower than the standard one should ha\ r e their wages I subsidised. “ I think the experiment of England in deA-eloping the insurance system, Avhich is now commonly termed the dole, must have been on the right lines, because it has been copied by so many other countries in the world,” said Mr Manning. “ Even in America, where the dole Avas attacked, and Avhere indi-A-idual enterprise and initiative was developed to its uttermost, Ave find great agitation for the adoption of the English system. If economists and other public men are agreed that it is the best method of meeting the terrible problem of unemployment, surely it Avould be a Avise policy for New Zealand to adopt something similar. It is obvious that the present schemes are leading us into further depression, and an increase of unemployment. Therefore, I think that the system of straight-out sustenance payments should be given a trial in New Zealand. The greatest weakness I find in the nresent s\'stems adopted in New Zea’and is the small amount of interest that a Avorker can take in the relief works provided. He knows that they are provided simpiv to provide work, and he is not caUed upon to make any contribution to the w'ell-being of society in the \york in which he is engaged. The scrapping of machinery is a retrograde step, and, as this is being done, it shoAvs that our economic system is a paradox. Machinery should be used to increase -production and make it possible for all men and women to work less time and ha\e greater periods of leisure in which their constructive abilities might be utilised, and their own personalities given expression."