UNEMPLOYMENT

Wairarapa Daily Times, 13 May 1932, Page 6

UNEMPLOYMENT

GOVERNMENT POLICY. STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER. WELLINGTON, Thursday. Interviewed to-day regarding the recent disturbances in Wellington, the Prime Minister (the 'Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) stated that the Governmen was doing all it possibly could to meet the unemployment position. There is no doubt that it is a very difficult problem,” said Mr Forbes, “the. dealing with which is so largely governed by the amount of money available for the purpose. The Minister of Employment and the Employment Board are giving a great deal of thought and consideration to devising the best methods of providing for the unemployed by means of relief work schemes and the provision of food in cases of want and dis"No man is working more sincerely and sympathetically in the direction ot alleviating difficulties than Mr Coates, and I fee! sure that all right-thinking citizens will credit him with making an honest and sincere endeavour to mate the funds at his disposal go as far as posible in mitigating distress among the unemployed and their dependents. I think it will be generally recognised that the troubles we are experiencing are almost entirely brought about by world-wide economic conditions over which we in this Dominion have no control. The Government in its efforts to bring about rehabilitation of the country’s affairs must look to the community generally for assistance and co-opera-tion and self-sacrifice in ensuring that the beneficial effects which it is hoped will accrue from the legislative measures which have been recently passed by Parliament will be fully achieved. _ I greatlv appreciate the excellent spirit which has been shown up to the present by citizens generally, a large number of whom must be sorely feeling the strain of the prevailing stressful conditions. They have been responding most generously to the financial calls that have been made upon them by the various social organisations which are devoting attention to the relief of distress among the unfortunate men and -women who are out of employment. “I am afraid a continuance of that sympathetic feeling towards the unemployed is not going to be encouraged by the riotous actions and vandalism on the part of a comparatively small hooligan section of the community which has caused such destruction and damage to many of the business premises in Wellington and in Auckland. It is to be regretted that such actions must inevitably have the effect of discouraging that source of co-opeiatii c help which the Government must rely upon in its efforts to make provision for the unemployed, as it is wellknown that a certain amount of money has been made available by Parliament by way of the unemployment tax, and it is recognised that this tax means a very heavy burden on a large section of the public. The sum involved in the payment of the present rates of pay to relief workers will, it seems likely, moro than absorb the amount of this taxation by the end of the period for which it has been provided, and it is therefore all the more desirable that citizens should be encouraged rather than discouraged to continue that generous response to appeals on behalf of the unemployed, which has been hitherto such a gratifying factor in meeting the present emergency. No good purpose can possibly be served by the extreme action on the part of relief workers in striking and by inciting disturbances and destruction of property. On the contrary, these actions must render the position more difficult. “I wish also to take this opportunity of expressing the Government’s warm appreciation of those who have voluntarily come forward to act as special police at the present time. Theii loyal co-operation in assisting to maintain law and order merits our warmest commendation and worthily upholds the best traditions of citizenship. I should like to add also that the manner in which the officers and members of the Police Force have carried out their duty calls for our hearty appreciation and gratitude. They have exercised patience and fact in admittedly trying conditions, and the discharge of their difficult tasks affords a marked tribute to the efficiency of the Force. I desire again to stress the fact that there is no unlimited supply of funds and that the Government is not ivanting in whole-hearted sympathy for those who are unfortunately suffering at the present time. We will earnestly continue to do our very best with the financial resources at our disposal in extending the greatest possible measure of relief. To prevent any misunderstanding as to the Government’s attitude in connection with the recent regrettable occurrences,” concluded Mr Forbes, “ I give a very definite assurance that we shall deal severely with all such illegal actions, and that the maintenance of law and order in the community will be our paramount consideration at all costs.” —(P.A.) MR COATES’ STATEMENT. WELLINGTON, Thursday. If the Wellington relief workers’ demands concerning increased rates of pay were applied throughout the 'whole country, the cost to the Employment Board would be £103,676 a week, or £5,361,152 a year, for the administration of the No. 5 Scheme alone, without tho other activities of the board being taken into consideration, according to a statement by the Minister of Employment (tho Rt. lion. J. G. Coates), in reply to a question during an interview to-day. Mr Coates said that under the revised scale of wages the revenue of the board would permit of an expenditure of only £60,000 under the No. 5 Scheme in tho four centres alone. Before the introduction of the new rates, the board has been spending at the rate of £50,000 a week. Discussing the position generally, Mr Coates said that those in work on relief jobs at present would receive the new scale of wages,

and, in addition, hospital board assistance would be given in necessitous cases. As soon as the new scheme became fully operative, relief workers would receive revised rates of pay and ration cards in addition, where these were required. The Minister repeated that he refused to make a statement to tho whole of the relief workers until all were back on their jobs.—(P.A.) (The Wellington Relief Workers’ Strike Committee submitted the following to the Government as the basis of returning to work:—Single men, two days a week, at 12s 6d, and immediate reinstatement on relief work of men in camp. Married men with no children, or one child, three days at 12s 6d. Married men with two or three children, four days at 12s 6d. Married men with four children or more, five days at 12s 6d. No stand-down week for any section. Free transport to and from work. Exemption from unemployment levy. Shelters on all jobs. Full pay and no work in wet weather.)