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Hokitika Guardian, 30 December 1930, Page 8

STAGGERING FIGURES. U N EMPLO YMEN T REG ARDED AS NORMAL. WELLINGTON, December 26. Speaking of the dole in England, Mr L. S. Drake, chief traffic inspector of VVelinigton, who lias just returned, said it was dilficult to know where. England was heading financially in respect to the dole payments, which had reached staggering figures. “The marvel of it is,” said Mr Drake “that no one seems to worry about it. it seems to have become an accepted thing, and there it is. Nobody seems to be concerned as to how long the people with money can pay out money to give to those without. A position which is highly absurd has come to bo regarded as a normal one. A labouring man told me that, with allowances for his wife and family, he got £2 14s a week out of the dole, but, when employed at his work, he received only £1 15s a week. Under these circumstances, is it any wonder that men are doing their utmost to remain unemployed P You don’t hear much about the state of unemployment at Home I. have heard more about unemployment since T have been back here than I have in any country I have visited. Even in Australia the people do not seem to he as disturbed as we arc here.”