THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, JULY 4, 1932. A DANGEROUS DRIFT.

Wairarapa Age, 4 July 1932, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, JULY 4, 1932. A DANGEROUS DRIFT.

In any criticism of the unemployment policy that is being pursued in New Zealand, full account should be taken of the fact that more liberal relief is being given to the unemployed in this country than probably anywhere else in the world. The New Zealand scale of relief is much more liberal than that ruling in the Australian States, even where standards have been set by Labour Governments. No one will pretend that the New Zealand scale is in all cases as ample as could be desired, but, save in the very important particular of provision for unemployed women, it is the best that the world can show. The cost to the country at which this scale is being maintained can only be described as alarming. With taxation developed to a point at which a crushing load and handicap is imposed on all forms of productive industry, not far from onefifth of the total national revenue is being spent by the State upon the relief of unemployment. The Unemployment Board is working this year upon a revenue of something over three and a half millions sterling. The picture becomes still darker when it is considered that of the total of not far from seventy thousand men who are dependent wholly Or partly on the Unemployment Board, over 54 thousand are relying mainly on the No. 5 Scheme —in other words are engaged in relief work much of which is of little productive value or none at all. There cannot be any doubt that the unemployment problem, as it exists and is developing, is one which not only those who are out of work, but all sections of the population, are vitally interested in solving. Nothing but a revival and expansion of normal productive industry can give the country relief from the tremendous burden under which it is now staggering. So long as unemployment continues, national sentiment undoubtedly will demand that available resources shall be strained to the‘Utmost in giving all the relief that is possible. There is thus the greatest possible incentive to seek for a real remedy, as distinct from the mere relief of unemployment. The position that has to be faced meantime is that a very large part of the present huge expenditure on relief is doing nothing whatever to bring a solution of the • unemployment problem nearer. The Unemployment Board is making an expenditure this year of something like one million sterling on land development and other schemes from which it is hoped to obtain some ultimate return, but there remains an army of well over fifty thousand men engaged in relief work that is largely unproductive. The extension of the small farm plan and of farm improvement work may modify the position to a fairly considerable extent, but it seems quite hopeless to look to methods of this kind for a complete solution of the unemployment problem. One suggestion that has been advanced is that a single skilled organjeer should be given a dictator’s control over unemployment policy and entrusted with the task of the constructive rehabilitation of industry. This is a plan that will hardly appeal to serious students of New Zealand politics, but that there is need of bold and decisive action if the terrible incubus of unemployment is to be lifted within any reasonable period is beyond all question. This is not the kind of country to submit voluntarily to dictatorial rule, but its people should be prepared to recognise that they are doing themselves much less than justice m their present attitude towards the unemployment problem—an attitude that is largely passive except in the extent to which it is varied by criticism or denunciation of the Unemployment Board. The very necessary alternative to the dictatorial handling of the problem which admittedly is impracticable is a unity, throughout the community, of effort directed methodically and with determination to broadening the field of profitable .employment. Experts declare that much of the farming land of the Dominion might be farmed to better advantage if it were divided, in some instances, into smaller holdings and if in others were worked with a greater use of labour. It is stated also, that some of our secondary industries would command a much better and wider market if they were more efficiently organised. In the great industry of transport, enormous economies which would quicken and stimulate all other industries undoubtedly are possible. Every field of this kind should be explored. There are plenty of people in the Dominion capable of conducting the necessary explorations in detail and of turning the results of their explorations to commercial account. Compelling reasons for resolute, concerted efforts throughout the community on inese lines ought to be found in the fact that the only apparent alternative is to bear indefinitely the present deadweight and almost crushing cost of unemployment relief or an even greater load of the same kind. We are about to enter a period in which considerable relief possibly may be obtained from monetary adjustments of one kind and another. Any benefit of this kind will go only a little way, however, if it is not turned to account in a general revival of practical enterprise throughout the community.