WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 2 January 1931, Page 5

WELLINGTON TOPICS

UNEMPLOYMENT DOLE,

MORE TAXATION.

(Special Correspondent).

WELLINGTON, December 31. The statement made by Mr W. D. Leadley, a member of the Unemployment Board, in Christchurch the other day to the effect that the tax of 30s a year would not he sufficient to cover the pressing demands upon the Board, has occasioned a good deal of discussion here. It is being stated widely that, hundreds of men are leaving less remunerative work in the country, and even in the cities, to find easier

and more congenial occupation in the

nearest unemployed camp. The taxpayers generally would not grudge the payment of thirty shilling a year if they were assured seventy-five per cent, of the money was expended upon a good cause; hut most of them arc thus early ready with stories of rank indolence and glaring incompetence of fifty per cent, of the recipients of relief. Jobs which .should have occupied a few days are being dragged out for several weeks; and, except in rare instances, it seems to he no one’s business to see the work acceleraeted. SOONER THE BETTER.

The “Dominion” this morning, referring to the deplorable state of.affairs that has developed from the Government’s good 'intentions does not mince matters. “People,” it says, “are not prepared to he mulct indefinit. ely for the support of a scheme which on its present basis seems to be creating unemployment instead of reducing it. Unless something of a constructive nature is devised, the scheme will break down under its fiwn weight. There must come sooner or later, and the sooner the better, a revision of the relief work rates of pay if the "money provided by the public is to go round, and a practical inducement offered to tlio.se on such works to look elsewhere on their own account lor bettering themselves.” Those are hard sayings, of course, hut they are justified by the facts, and unless the workers themselves mend their ways the duty of the Government will be to see that reasonably satisfactory results are obtained from the money it lias exacted from the community. TRAMWAY MATTERS.

The news from Christchurch to the effect that extensive economies are to he effected in the tramway service of the Cathedral City has occasioned some uneasiness here among both the tramway employees and the general public. It is known that conferences have been held between the Wellington tramway management and the Union officials and that the subjects of staffs anti services, up well as wages have been discussed. The position here, however, is not so acute as it appears to he in Christchurch, where, it is stated, fourteen hands have been dispensed with already, and fourteen others are to follow in the near future. Wellington has not got to tbits pass, nor is it likely to do so in the near future, but tbe fact that there was a material decline in its tram revenue during the year just closed has set the city fathers thinking. It- is suggested that private enterprise, as in the case of the railways and the motor cars, is at mischief here. DIAMONDS.

A representative of the “Evening Post” has drawn from a “leading local geologist” a statement concerning the claim of “a certain military gentleman” to have discovered somewhere in the North Island crystals which “have been proved to be trne diamonds.” This authority does not expect great things from the discovery. He thinks that from a geological point of view the projects are not particularly encouraging. No trace of a, true diamond, he says, lias ever been found in New Zealand. "What hap been found and given rise to high hopes is zircon, which is not a diamond. This stone when exposed to high temperature changes or lose® colour and is attended by a distinct gain in brilliance. Artificially decolourised it- becomes the Matura Diamond of Ceylon. Some forty or fifty years ago a number of stones bearing a very- strong, resemblance to diamonds were found at Mount Somers in Mid-Canterbury, and it took the evnerts in Condon some fixe or sixmonths to finally determine Ihcy were of no commercial value.