PLAN FOR UNEMPLOYED

Hokitika Guardian, 27 February 1931, Page 6

PLAN FOR UNEMPLOYED

BY Mil COATES. TO BREAK IN IDLE LANDS. (]ii/ Telcijrii[>h —Per Press Association) DARGAVILLE, Feb. 26. In discussing tiie problem of unemployment in a speech lie made at Tekopiiru last 11 igut, Mr J. G. Coates, Leader of the Opposition, outlined a new proposal for the absorption of the unemployed. There were, he said, two avenues of permanent employnuiL that /should be kept in mind when dismissing measures of unemployment relief in New Zealand, and those were, firstly, the adoption of workers in existing and new and secondly, land settlement. Ho said that the schemes so far tried had in a great measure failed, and he added that the problem of unemployment was only being tinkered with. ‘ 1 propose a five year programme, providing for the absorption - of, say, | 4000 men, and those to lie utilised in I breaking in new country. They would I be associated in groups:— (1 ) —Those who have been accustomed to outdoor life and wish to become settlers. (2)—Those who are’, not so .well adapted, but by their fitness and application, proved good farm workers. - ■ (31 —Those not likely to. act pure ill*’ habits -of country life in a very short time. Some 5000 men now unemployed would, under this programme,, have been.mobilised and their energy directed in preparing idle Crown 1 antis for settlement purposes, and those men who were keen and adaptable would, before long, join the ranks of primary producers, and become self-supporting. “ Huts and hutments would be used foj- housing all of them, these being convertible eventually to farm requirements. Tin* wives and children of these emloyees would be allottd a sum of money per day, for their maintenance. r Hie undertakings would embrace : (1) —The development of Crown I lands—that is, pumice lands, gum | lands, clay lands, and other suitable Crown and idle lands, of which there are vast areas. (2) —The reclamation of sand dunes country, by the planting of marram and lupin, preparatory to making pasture lands, or by the planting of forest trees. (3) —The reclamation of tidal estu- | nrics in suitable localities, of which there are thousands’ of acres avail- ] able an Kopara. ■ Hokianga and j other harbours in the North Is- ; land. These extensive flats are . only covered by salt water at the higlfest spring tides, and, whore reclaimed, 'have proved valuable grazing country. | (4) —The irrigation :fhd preparing ol land for closer settlement in micaschist regions in the South Island whTNi has proved quite possible ol production when suitable treatment is applied. Generally, the advantages of the | proposal are that it defines a clear cut j programme. It lias for its object use- j ful employment for men out of work, j and their intelligence, power and en- j ergy would he directed in creating new j assets for the country by increasing the j volume of primary exportable- products. It is clearly liecossarv to provide work for men out of employment, and those who, under the proposal outlined, would be asked to contribute may expect* a return in future for some of the money provided. It will be seen that J my proposals would eventually replace j the 'ifnemployinen.t schemes. , Earlier in my remarks I referred to the dole, and how necessary it was. in my opinion, that New Zealand should . void anything in the nature of relict of this kind. I need ’ remind the people of this country that Great Britain has found it necessary to- take measures to increase the' previous shortage of the dole fund of €53,000,(.00 by €20,01)0,000.' u ' country fails to adopt sound methods ■of employment, our costs in meeting the problem of unemployment will im’vitablv rise. I