FOR THE UNEMPLOYED

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 73, 28 March 1933, Page 9

FOR THE UNEMPLOYED

FOOD FROM FARMERS

SURPLUS PRODUCTS

(Special to "The Evening Post.")

OTAKI, This Day.

A deputation consisting of the Bo\*i Father Biordan/and the Rev. M. Ayrtqn waited on the Otaki Unemployment Committee, on behalf of tho Otaki Distress Belief Committee.

Father Biordan said that since meeting the committee two months previously the position of the unemployed had gone from bad to worse. Three causes contributed to this: (a) Bediietion in wages; (b) stoppage of rations; (c) increased cost of diving. In explanation, Father Biordan said the first cause was sufficiently known and lamented by tthe 'committee for him to enlarge upon it. The second was due to the failure of the Unemployment Bqard to carry out the undertaking it made when it assumed in lieu of the hospital boards the responsibility for rations and relief of necessitous cases. It was evident from a recently reported romark of the Prime Minister that he expected relief committees to do the work. The increased cost of living came from the exchange fiasco and sales tax niainlj. The Belief Committee in Otaki had done its utmost Vith no great measure of public support until. it found .itself nearly £10 in debt. Consequently, it had to cease assisting the men exeept during \tand-down week. - The winter and its' concomitant necessities was at hand, and so the committee were asked to approach the farmers of the district to come to the assistance of the Distress Belief Organisation. The ■ suggestion was this, that as a certain amount of labour was done for farmers free, they be asked to voluntarily contribute of their surplus products . which, beeause of the .state of the markets, were unsaleable. ~' This was not intended to Interfere with the subsidies at present paid, but would give the farmers. concerned the opportunity of meeting the discrepancy between what amount they paid and the value of the work done. The whole thing was to be on a voluntary, though organised,' basis. It was hoped that this would help the farmer ultimately because by tho consumption of his surplus products room would be made for the now. season and consequently the present glut would be re-\ lieved. Father Biordan said it was his opinion that a moral obligation existed for some return for the amount of free labour given.

The Rev. Mr. Ayrton supported Father Riordan and pointed out that the relief Committee acted as a buffer between the Employment Committee and the public,on the one hand and the unemployed and the distressed on the other. If the committee had to fail for want'of. support, then both the public and the Unemployment Committee would have, to bear the brunt of tho situation that would arise.

Mr. MeGill, acting-chairman, thanked the deputation and after some discussion and explanation it" was agreed that the clerk of the ■ Employment Committee would call a meeting of farmers to discuss and consider the scheme.