PREVENTION BETTER THAN CURE

Hokitika Guardian, 17 December 1929, Page 3

PREVENTION BETTER THAN CURE

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE.

(By “Y.”)

An article in your paper on 7th. iiist. by “X” asking for opinions prompts me to give a few opinions, find I hope a more abler pen than mine will take this subject up, and try to construct not destruct. No real worker in good health would lower his dignity to ask for adole. This is a young country that needs developing./ There are seasonable industries in this country such as freezing works, harvesting, shearing, etc.,, and when these jobs are finished these men have to find work, and this country by using these men for developing it, by putting them on road and railway construction are doing a service that should bo appreciated by all.

The people of this country should spend their money in this country, and in this town. If possible, will people that earn their money in this district spend their money in the town and in the country?

Not send their money out of their country for goods. Nor spend their money with people that take their savings out of the country. All money going out of this country carries unemployment.

By buying the article produced in the country, manufactured or grown by your own people you are helping to find employment for the unemployed, and if everyone done this there would be no need for unemployment insurance.

Insure yourself against unemployment by spending your money in your own town or your own country with people that spend their money there also.

And employers of labour should do their bit by keeping down overhead expenses, and keep production up to the standard, and keep prices down. Wo know that in some of the local industries that production is kept down to keep up prices. The country cannot advance while that sort of thing goes on.

In every town in New Zealand there is a large sum of fiioriey tied up in banks, Hokitika included. It should be kept in circulation. If the business pc n ple, or retired business people of this town Or this country, were to look aroiind them and try to advance their town, by having a round-the-table talk about the advancement of their town,, say once a month, I feel sure this town would boom. There are plenty of industries that could be started here. Where in Nov Zealand could you get a better place for a large sash and door factory? Wc have a central butter factory here which is a boom thing for’ town,' also for the farmers. ‘ Why. not' •starta. central flax mill here? We have flax all around the district, and b feel quite sure that if one was staffed they would get an unlimited supply of flax Off the'farms, and roads of the surrounding, district, and' the farmers may feel inclined to grow some. Freight to the mill would he cheap as there are lorries plying all around the country Taking goods out, !t .ud they would have back-loading. There are also plenty of sheep. What about a woollen mill? Look on the bright side and push your town ahead. We want a brighter town and a brighter country, and this can be done by developing y our own country, spending your money in. your own town witli townspeople that spend their money here, and are trying to make our town more prosperous and brighter, then there would be no liecd for unemployment insurance. Prevention is better than cure.