"STIGMA OF SUSTENANCE”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 135, 9 June 1937, Page 8

"STIGMA OF SUSTENANCE”

APPEAL BY MINISTER LOCAL BODIES' CO-OPERATION I Per Press Association. I WELLINGTON. June 7 The advisability of local authorities co-operating with the Government by undertaking works of a local or national character capable of providing full-time employment for physically fit men at present on sustenance was emphasised by the Acting-Minister of Labour, the Hon. R. C. Webb, in an Interview to-night. During the past week the Minister met the local bodies of the East Coast and Hawke’s Bay districts and appealed to them to remove the stigma of sustenance from able-bodied men who were being wasted on sustenance when capable of being employed on useful economic work. The Minister said that on the whole he was extremely gratified with the spirit that prevailed throughout the different conferences. He felt confident that if al! local bodies and the Government set out to tackle the unemployment problem the same as they would an epidemic they would soon have thousands of men now wasting profitably employed. He was certain the Government would do everything in its power to co-operate with the local bodie: in this direction. It was his intention to hold a similar conference in Timaru and Dunedin, probably this week, and on his return from the South to act similarly at Wanganui and New Plymouth. He vodld then have a survey prepared of the work that could be put in hand, and approximate cost of the work, and the number of men available. Later, if time permitted, it was his intention to hpld similar conferences throughout the Dominion.