UNEMPLOYMENT.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20496, 15 March 1932, Page 13

UNEMPLOYMENT.

LOCAL COMMITTEE MEETS.

SCHEME FOR ABSORPTION OF ALL UNEMPLOYED.

A plan to absorb all New Zealand's unemployed was submitted at yesterday's meeting of tho Christchurch Unemployment Committee by Mr J. W. Crampton, nnd will be discussed at the Committee's meeting next week. I The plan embodies extensive farming scheme to be financed under legislation enforcing graduated contributions from all men and women over 20 years of age in receipt of £3 per week and over. Scheme Outlinod. The outline of tho scheme set forth:— the purpos.es of tho scheme it is estimated that there would be in the vicinity of 400,000 contributors whose incomes average £5 per week, and from this, tho average contribution would bo 10 per cent. This would, therefore, mean an income of & 10,000,000 per annum. Such an amount extended over a planned period of five years would give an assured working capital of £50,000,000, This, of course, would replaco present unemployment levies. This money would bo invested in Government bonds (interest free) and bo placed to tho credit of respective contributors. Each year, however, a dividend would be declared on the profits, if any, of the main farming scheme. .. It is estimated that, after the expiration of seven years, contributors would be free to draw out the whole of the money to their credit, and should a contributor,/lesire to leave the Dominion beforo this time had elapsed, he would be entitled to the full amount of his contributions, plus any dividends that may have accrued in the meantime. The primary object of the farming scheme would be intensive pig and dairy farming, especially pig raising for bacon. . Useful or Useless Work. In laying a copy of the scheme on the table, Mr Crampton said that at present lie had nothing to add to it, except that an effort should be made to plan for tho absorption of all the unemployed. Metaphorically speaking, all that had been dono had been to dig a hole and fill it in again. If a definito scheme wore evolved they might arrive at some moans of finding the way to success. They were now, it appeared, on the eve of another 10 per cent, cut, i:nd it was going to be to their dieadvuiUage, rather than their advantage. The chairman (Cr. E. 11. Andrews) said that while they wanted some direct suggestions, he deplored that members of the committee should say that no useful work was being done— Mr Crampton: Metaphorically speakThe chairman: Our members should be careful. \\ e get enough of "no usoful work being done" from outsiders who don t know anything about tho matter. Chipping of grass on the roadsides is frequently referred .to, but it is an infinitossimal part of relief work and has to bo done, and was done before there was uny unemployment. It is most useful and necessary work and work that tho City Council has always done. I hope that members of the committee will not give the impression to outsiders that practically all tho work done is useless. For the most part it has been useful work; the City Council has seen to that. Mr G. Lawn said that it was hardly fair to Mr Crampton to take such an elaborate scheme and discftss it at a moment's notice. Cr. J. W. Beanland said he had just been glancing down the scheme and it seemed to be the same as one that Mr Gcroyd had elaborated to him. Mr R. J. Ecroyd: Not this scheme; not in any shape or form. ,It was decided to hold over discussion of the Bcheme till next week. The Relief Depot. Reporting on the Central Relief .Dopot, Cr. Traer said that she had received parcels of clothing, but no porambulators. Women were pleading vory hard for perambulators. Mothers of twins were not able to carry both. Cr. Beanland said that in past times gin cases with four wheels added had been used as perambulators. Mr Scarff: If you get the gin cases I'll get the wheels. Mr George Harper reported that last week had been a slightly better week, and he thought that things were going to look up. He would seo what could be done about getting perambulators. The moeting was attended by Crs. E. H. Andrews (chairman), J. W. Beanland, J. S. Barnett, Annie I. Fraer, 'Messrs George Harper, W. W. Scarff, R. J. Ecroyd, J. W. Crampton, N. H. Graham (Labour Department), G. Lawn, F. L. Hutchinson, F. W. J. Belton, W. J, Walter, Rev. F. T. Read, and Mr L. N. Hitehens (acting hon. eecretary).