The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1930. UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 February 1930, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1930. UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF.

IHK cctielusions .arrived at by the Special Committee which has been, engaged for a very considerable time in conducting an investigation into the problem of unemployment in the Dominion have now been published. In so far as they relate to the causes of unemployment, they are, for the most pa.it, as sound as they are inevitable, but the remedies that are proposed, considers the Otago Times, ma\ not prove acceptable to a large portion ■ of the community. Unemployment, as the committee states, arises very largely from social conditions and presents, moreover, a continuing problem. As it constitutes a national problem, it is reasonable that the entire community should be called upon to defray the cost of measures designed for its relief. The attempts that have been made in the past to deal with unemployment have, in many instances, been far from satisfactory, and it was on that account that the Special Committee deliberated. The causes tor unemployment are recognised generally as being economic, and the financial aspect created the difficulty for a prompt and ready to hand cure. In the attempt to deal with the causes, there has been an enormous expenditure. The Government, local bodies and the public provided generously, and the money has melted away mainly in relief works, but as soon as the fountain of supply of funds ceases to | operate, the unemployment recurs, and is again a problem. The Special Committee has studied the position from such an angle and recognises the uneconomic nature of the relief measures. The Committee also rejected the scheme of unemployment insurance which obtains at Home. The reasons which .have forced the committee to this view—namely, that industry is not organised in New Zealand as it is at Home and tha.t a great deal of the employment that is offered in staple industries is seasonal and intermittentcarry a great deal of weight. The committee has devised, therefore, a plan, by which by means of the imposition of fresh taxation, the funds may be secured for the relief of unemployment. Its suggestion, however, that extra revenue to the extent, of over £700,000 should he obtained, mainly by a system of fiat taxation, will not he generally acceptable both

by reason of the fact that this would involve a departure from the principle of graduated! taxation which is observed in this Dominion, and might prove, inequitable, and also because the bur- . den of taxation is at present weighing very heavily upon all sections of the community. The levy proposed it will je recognised is alternative to the actual payments which have been going on of late in an aimless way—that is, it has not achieved or made for any denmte goal, other than temporary relief for the time being. The fear will oe tnat the proposed levy will become a definite and regular burden adding u) the general taxation. The'Committee proposes that the expenditure should be in charge of an Employment Board to arrange with the Government and with local bodies schedules oi work of a developmental character on which the work of the unemployed might be utilised and to administer the relief funds. Hie committee contemplates further that in the event of useiul work not being found for persons registered as unemployed (and this is the weakness of the position) the .board should have authority to make sustenance payments to those for whom employment is not available. This is a proposal that seems to be fraught until the danger of abuses against the occurrence of which stringent safeguards would be necessary. The problems with which a committee is faced that sets about to cure the grave economic malady of unemployment are admittedly manifold, and it is at least apparent from the report that a thoughtful and serious attempt lias been made to deal with them. The Committee has endeavoured to reach the goal desired by a new track. Naturally It follows much of the old route, but there is a degree of organisation and unification which should lead to better all routul results, and avoid some of the abuses now apparent. The report as a whole will provoke much general discussion, but the criticism should not be all destructive if it is co be fair. If the scheme is held to be bad palpably, or little better than the haphazard attempts of the past, then the critics should • be constructive and suggest other alternative remedies. This subject is too important to he treated on party, political lines. Unemployment is all too universal and the remedy and relief are of paramount importance. The Committee was of all ■ car ties, and on that account its recommendations, said to be unanimous, are worthy the greater respect and consideration.