R.S.A. SCHEME

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 48, 25 August 1933, Page 8

R.S.A. SCHEME

HELPING UNEMPLOYED

"MUTUAL WORK PLAN"

Full details of' the hew scheme to assist unemployed returned soldiers were given by Colonel K. S. McQuarrie, vice-president of the- Wellington E.S.A., at a largely-attended meeting of returned men held at the Ngaio Town Hall last evening. "The principle of the B.S.A. Mutual Work. Plan," said the speaker, "is to give to unemployed returned soldiers, and unemployed returned soldiers only, work on some of their stand-down days producing such commodities as firewood and simple furniture, growing potatoes and onions, doing boot repairs, etc., for themselves and other unemployed returned soldiers. Five shillings per day is paid by the W.B.S.A. for this, mutual work. The cost of these commodities is calculated on this payment, and the selling price .to unemployed returned soldiers, at about 25 per cent, less, than cost price. Thus for every £.100 paid in wages by the W.E.S.A. £75 is received back in sales and £25 is found from. W.B.S.A. funds. j

"Unemployed returned, soldiers are therefore given extra work, and are able to buy mutual commodities at probably two-thirds to one-half of retail prices. It is clearly to be understood that mutual work and supplies are available to unemployed returned soldiers only. The- rate paid for work is bound up with the .soiling price and WJJ.S.A. resources, because if the daily rate were doubled only half the men could be employed, half the quantity would be produced, and the selling price would be doubled." The first step in the operations- or the new plan has already been taken. Men are now engaged in tree-cutting at Porirua, and 4ft lengths.of timber are to be brought into, the, city, where they will be cut up into suitable size for firewood. The firewood will be sold at between one-half and two-thirds of retail prices. "We are going to produce 3000 bags of firewood aa a first endeavour," said Colonel McQuarrie. "It is going to- cost the W.B.S.A. £50, hut it is going to give £200 worth of work to returned soldiers, who are working not only for themseLves, but for other returned soldiers.