TEMPORARY RELIEF

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 141, 17 June 1931, Page 8

TEMPORARY RELIEF

EFFORT BY GOVERNMENT DEPUTATION TO PREMIER CAMPS FOR UNEMPLOYED MR FORBES SCOUTS IDEA [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, June 16. An effort is being made by the Government to devise a temporary plan of relief to avoid upduo distress arising out of the proposed abandonment of the Unemployment Board’s No. 5 Scheme for next, Saturday, and afforo some measure of assistance for the army of 40,000 workless until Parliament can deal with the question of providing the board with more money. This statement was made by the Prime Minister in reply to a deputation from the Wellington Citizens’ Unemployment Committee which waited upon him and the Minister of Labour to-day. Both the Primo Minister and the Minister of Labour failed to express any sympathy with the proposal put forward by the chairman of the committee, Mr J. I. Goldsmith, That since unemployed men throughout New Zea land should bo placed in the existing military camps under some form of discipline. Mr Forbes said that the suggestion was good in theory, but it would not be practicable. The effect of the abandonment of the No. 5 Scheme was emphasised by th? deputation, which advanced an alternative system of relief for the consideration of the Government. Mr Forbes promised that Parliament would be asked to deal with the question almost as soon as it met and he expressed the opinion that there would be little or no opposition to the proposals he intended to place before the House. Weak City Finances The Mayor, Mr Hislop, said that the Wellington City Council’s finances, being in a difficult position, it would be entirely unable to do anything toward assisting the men. The corporation was finding it hard to retain its own staff. The suspension of the benefits under the scheme would mean that about 3000 or 4000 men would be thrown completely out of work in Wellington alone. Mr Goldsmith said that the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was already heavily burdened, and it would be further deluged with applications for assistance.

Hon. S. G. Smith: Why should it be deluged this week, when the scheme has not ceased?

Mr Goldsmith said that the men-wero living from hand to mouth, and the money of many was mortgaged before they received it. Evidence could be produced proving that men, women and children wore starving in Wellington. The Prime Minister said that similar statements had been made by others, but the evidence of social organisations was to the contrary. If the assertion were true, then the social organisations had broken down, but this was not so.

Mr Goldsmith said that the committee ’s suggestion was that all the single men should be taken out of the towns and placed in camps. Trentham would be suitable for the Wellington district, and other military establishments could be requisitioned for other centres. Some form of discipline would be required, and those in the camps should be made to take physical exercise and attend lectures. They could also be given work near the camps. It was also suggested that the No. 5 Scheme should be continued for married men and that rule providing for a man to stand down every fourth week should be abolished. The committee’s proposal was that a married man with a wife only, should get 3 days’ work a week, a man with one child 3i days’ work, with two children 4 days, with three children 4$ days’ work, and with four or more children 5 days’ work.

The Prime Minister said there was no law by which the men could be forced to go into camp.

The Minister ofLabour said that personal representations had been made by certain Labour leaders wno objected to the proposal. Mr Forbes said that he recognised the seriousness of the position and realised that the various voluntary organisations were doing wonderful work in relieving distress. He had hoped that the No. 5 Scheme could be continued until Parliament met, but this had proved impossible. It was urgent that more funds should be provided for the Unemployment Board, and no time would bo lost in asking Parliament to do this as soon as it met. At tho same time, the various organisations should do all they could to assist. In the meantime, Mr Forbes said he was conferring with the Minister of Labour concerning tho possibility of tiding the men over, and he hoped to bo able to announce tho result of their efforts some time this week. The camp scheme would not appeal to the men who would be cooped up when they could be free. Unless those in charge of tho camps had definite disciplinary powers the scheme would be hopeless, and no power existed to put the men into camp. Local bodies had telegraphed him asking for a retention of tho scheme, and it was hoped that something could be done, even if only in a modified form. Mr F. D. Cornwell suggested that the Prime Minister should confer with other party leaders on the question. Mr Forbes said he did not think thv necessary. Tn the past unemployment had been treated as a non-party subject. He did not think the House would raise any opposition to his proposals.