The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1930. THE HELPING HAND.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 November 1930, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1930. THE HELPING HAND.

ihk prat i wal on or l>y tao c nemploymoiit Board to assist with un mediate r-elier, is no doubt a atop m the right direction. The works are to bo so spiead over so many local Todies that it should bo possible to embrace a large army of workmen wlio are in need of a few pounds to tide over the Cnristmas holidays. The Mayor of Auckland is disposed to be critical about the amount—a modest £25,000 —-but in the next breath lie comments that the period earmarked for expenditure is too short. If it were a larger sum it is obvious the time would be shorter still and the amount less likely to be spent. There are practically two months in which to dispose of the grant with the local body subsidy, or a total expenditure of .637,500. Tills is ait outgoing of nearly £5.000 a week for the period and should be a welcome addition to the normal expenditure of the country as a ihonits of providing necessary employment to those, needing it, The Board is to lie commended rather than criticised at this attempt with a helping hand when help is most necessary. The action should spur private enterprise to do all it eon at this juncture to assist with employment. In our own district, the sawmillers in particular have been doing a. great deal to keep staffs employed as much as possible. Tram laying and other works have been put m hand while timber orders are slack in order to keep the teams going. This is most praiseworthy and has helped greatly in the one way desirable tc meet the difficult times for those employed about the mills. W ere such work not forthcoming, the men vould have to seek elsewhere, often .breaking up homes. Other employers might help where they can at this juncture Tt is clear from the trend of affairs that there is not going to be a very sperdv recovery to former conditions of trade and commerce. The loss in export valuers is going to reduce credit very substantially to those dependent on the production or the puMiiry exports, and folk in other o ;, eupaticns who may he placed on more stable footings, have a responsibility just now to help all they can. 1 here is an obligation on the part of the local bodies to assist. There i.s the opportunity at the moment to take advantage of the offer from the 1 nemployluent Hoard and by ready co-operation assist the local unemployed to meet the demands of the corning festive seoson with a lighter heart. The unemployment levy i.s now payable by those lijable to contribute. Tt is manifest payment should be made as promptly as possible, so as to assist in providing more funds to aid the Board in its efforts to grapple with the unemployment menace. Help in that direction is a practical gesture to join with the proper authority in sharing something of the obvious task which is the duly of all able to participate in. Mimr-ters have made 'clear the obligations and intentions of the recent legislation. Its objective h purelv humanitarian and. should common'l Itself to all who are hound to eont •ibute. Though this channel then fore, the opportunity is afforded to ioin in londhig a helping hand in a ow'd important, social movement. As matters stand there is the likelihood of general emnlovment being slack for sonic time. With the fall in lending commodity prierp there will be of rter,.s v a shortage in the general circulation of money, and such stringency will have its direct effect on labour. For that reason it may become, more and mm- mve-sary 1o do'wnd on tin' good offices of the Tnemphnmeut Board fur work for surplus labour which it is essential it' the g o era! interests of the country should |,c. usad to the host advantage. Then' n ill be room, therefore, for all to Polp where then can offer in providing as much general employment as

possible to meet a situation which "'ill reflect itself all over the countrv.