About Unemployment.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20284, 19 April 1934, Page 8

About Unemployment.

Dear Sir,—l would be glad if you would kindly give me a little space in your valuable paper to keep before the public the unnecessary sufferings of the unemployed. The levy from the pitifully small wages (8s 3d a week by the time the levy is taken off) constitutes a scandal. Everything is in our favour—lovely climate, bumper harvest, top quality milk, tons of butter, and yet appeals have to be made for milk and butter for the unemployed. We are all under British rule, and expect to see British justice done. The workers don’t want to be pauperised; they want a living wage to enable them to buy in the shops what they require. There must be plenty of money in the Townhouse coffers now that could be used to add to the wages of the poorest paid in the city to enable them to buy themselves some warm clothes and other things they need. A relief worker’s wife complains that her husband gambles his little wage and leaves her and children to starve. I think that man should be put in a lunatic asvlum; he is not fit to be at large to be a husband and father. That’s why there have to be coupons. Some men have no conscience. I saw in the newspaper last Week that what was needed was a revolution of character I think that was very much to the point As regards the unemployed and Labour joining up, I think that is a good thing. Unity is strength.—l am. etc.. SYMPATHISER