The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated' the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER. 30, 1930. RELIEVING UNEMPLOYMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 September 1930, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated' the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER. 30, 1930. RELIEVING UNEMPLOYMENT.

Tllfi prediction that the Legislative Council would throw out the Unemployment Bill was not realised. The bill has been passed, and as soon as it receives the Governor-General’s assent on behalf of the Crown, it will become law, the authorities will set about putting the law in motion. The measure is one designed to meet a difficult situation, and in the circumstances it is 'the product of the best Parliament can do at this juncture. Conformable with its promise#, and following the result of a committee of enquiry, the bill was drafted and placed before Parliament. Actually it lias not been amended materially. The two main features are the levy of thirty shillings per head (payable in quarterly instalments by all males, and the sustenance proposals. The money in the first instance is designed to provide for the latter, and to give the proposal the requisite start pending the collection of the levy the Government is voting £IOO,OOO to the Board of Control. The measure has on the whole the approval of the Labour leaders. Some, indeed many, of the labour organisations are opposing the measure, but the stern fact remain# that relief and succour are needed, and where ‘is it to come from? Hitherto the Government and local bodies, particularly in the cities, have done a. great deal both with funds given generously by the citizens. and from, borrowed money; but these wells are running dry, and it is imperative to provide a substitute’. Axting on the mandate to deal with unemployment, the Government has chosen this particular way to do so, and Parliament ha# approved of the course. The recently appointed Labour member to the Upper House, expressed agreement with the bill when liefore the Legislative Council, and in danger of being shelved. The Hon. \T. Fagan intimated very definitely that lie would oppose the amendment moved with the object of shelving the measure and allowing Parliament to rise without providing in any way for unemployment It would be a mistake, said Mr Fagan, to postpone the operation of the bill when there was so much di#lress in the country. He paid a /tribute to the Government fur what it had done to relieve the position, but stated that at the end

of two yea; s they found themselves m a worse position. That was due io the depression through which they were passing and lie was sorry to have to say it was his opinion that they had not yet reach the climax. The sooner they got a systematised method of registration the better, for until that was brought about they would not know what tlie actual position was. Two things were absolutely vital if they were going to tackle the problem as it should be tackled. One was the encouragement of secondary industries and the other was the placing of more people on the land. He described Mr Earmshaw’s amendment as “cold blooded and inhuman,” and said it was degrading to ask the Council to vote upon it. There was support to the amendment from some of the Legislative Councillors. The Hon. J. B. Gow said there wore pos«i Dili ties of mischief in the bill that would justify them in refusing to deal with the measure hastily. It had to be remembered that capital and labour in New Zealand were to a large extent in a. strait jacket owing to restrictions imposed by the Arbitration Court, which failed to recognise that wages must ultimately depend on production. The Court falsely based' its decisions on the belief that it was necessary to maintain a certain standard of living. A contrary view Was' expressed by the Hem. A. S, Malcolm who said it was true that the ittti'Odilctotl of Inllciiitlery bad dislocated labour, but surely It ecu Id not be 'suggested that they - should do awnr with it. If the Council threw the hill Gut'it would be 'impossible for tlie Government to introduce , another measure this session; : - He did not agree that the bill would create a dole system, as the system was ■ already established per medium of the charitable aid boards. As a fair-minded mail, lie realised that he could no' oppose- the bill. Tie recognised that the dole was likely to proven demoralising in effect, but life d’d not think' there,were many who would prefer to" doing an honest.. jdaVs work. U tlie local bodies now carrying the burden for unemployment were no' afforded relief, many of them would be bankrupt at the end of twelve months. Another speaker in favour of the measure was the Hon. r G. Witty who haul lie did not like the (bill, but as it was the best proposition in sight he would vote against the amendment. It was the unemployable who were causing all thctrouble in New Zealand. He w.r strongly opoosed to the Arbitration Court, which was going too far altogether. One of the! biggest mistakes which bad been made wiy? to give 14* a day cm relief works. These' quotations indicate the general feeling of the Upper House, which accepted the measure, as the Lower House did, as the bent solution offering. It now remains for, the act to .be put into motion. There will be Some Opposition ho doubt to tlie individual payhifeliife, but lodkiiig' {irOdiidj ailcl seeing the general situation as it is, there can bo no doubt aS to the hoed for relief. Whether the money is to be raised this way or by a wages and salaries tax makes little difference. The point to appreciate is that more money must be provided for the purpose in mind.