UNEMPLOYMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 4 February 1928, Page 1

UNEMPLOYMENT

ALA 1.011 NIJ POSITION' IX A rCXL AX i>. A I'OK LAND. Foil. 2. ‘'Human nature can stand a certain amount, but so far as wo are concerned we have'reached t he end of our tether. I predic t that if something is not done soon there will he u big political revolt, because there is an ugly tone about some of them, a tone that I don’t like.” . These are the words of the Rev .Jasper Calder, who confessed to-day that tho unemployment situation in Auckland has reached the stage where it cannot be adequately handled. The City ATissioner accepted full responsibility for his utterance, declaring emphatically that for the first time in the history of the Mission he had been compelled to inform men that he could not assist them, so great was the stream of people who passed through the institution daily in search of food, drink, and clothing.

Tile unemployment! position has steadily grown worse during the past few months and it is estimated by those with the most intimate knowledge of the market that there are over 2!>o!> men out of work in tile city and suburbs. Trade union books disclose startling figures, and even in mid-winter the out-of-work lists are no greater than they are at present. City relief workers .shudder to contemplate wliat is to happen before the winter of 1928 arrives. As the situation lias never been sio tense in mid.Jaiiuary as it is revealed to be at the present time, there is a hick ol confidence in the ability of the authorities, to handle the big problem successfully, not only on the part of those who are directly interested in the welfare of the men, hut also on the part of those who previously treasured the belief that the Government would help them out.

Air Calder, usually most tolerant of men, spoke with some vehemence? ”1 am satisfied,” he said, “that the

people at present in power are utterly incapable of dealing with tho position.”

“How do you fool when' you have to turn down hungry people?” Afr Calder was asked.

“How do I feel? How would any decent man feel in having to send them away starving? How would you feed if you saw men, whom you kite"' as big, strapping fellows, gradually wasting day by day till now they are so thin their clothes are just clinging) to them ? These are not wasters. They are chaps I have known for ten years.’ ‘ “But where do they go? Do they starve and die?” “No, I do not think any of them die of starvation. I think someene just steps in and keeps them from that.” “Wliat is to happen in the winter 2“ “Oh” (Mr Calder raised both arms above his head). “I fear there might he open revolt before then. I don’t like the look of .some of these fellows. Human nature cannot stand it.” “Can you suggest a remedy?” “There is only one remedy—work. If you handed me now a cheque for £IOOO, and Heaven knows I could do

with it here, it would not give these men what they want. They do not want charity; they want work.”

“Are all the cases you handle genuine hard-up?” “I spy that 90 per cent of them are genuine cases. You see we know them so well. They are not strangers to us. AYe get a few larrikins, but we soon pick them out. “It is recent history that a certain hi" landlord in •Auckland watched the relief recipients in the holidays, and a woman who had gathered £2 for food and fuel for the home found him on the doorstep before her, waiting for the money. So threatening was he that she gave him the lot. The family of four went unfed and unfrocked. Men will not go to the country because farmers, they say, make them work fourteen hours daily for tlTeir keep only, while the families have to remain in the town and starve.”