UNEMPLOYMENT BOARD

Hokitika Guardian, 8 May 1931, Page 2

UNEMPLOYMENT BOARD

Those critics who contend that the relief work under the Unemployment Board’s schemes is not of a useful character may find in many parts ot the Dominion examples of very satisfactory work, both utilitarian and aesthetic, which could not possibly have been put in hand if the funds of the Board had not been made available for the purpose. Substantial amounts have been expended in improvements to school grounds and in providing playground facilities, with the result that mnn.\ schools in remote districts can now bb'a.st of up-to-date conveniences for work and play. One of the most striking tributes to the effective work made possible by the Board is that from the Director of Education (Mr T, B. Strong, M.A., B.Sc,), who, commenting on work done under Scheme No. 5, writes as follows to the Unemployment Commissioner:— “Yp)t may be interested to learn that dpring a recent visit T paid to tlie Auckland Training College I found thfxji 200 men were working on the grounds. It was most gratifying to note the interest' and in some eUsos enthusiasm displayed by the. workers on the various johs they were engaged on. The Principal of the Training College, who is keenly interested in tlie work, assured me that the men worked admirably and seemed to he ontjmsed .by the knowledge that the work they were doing wo* of benefit not only to the Training College Stiulenfa, but to pupils of the various tpodel Rohools., Several of the men ware experts in landscape gardening and their advice was invaluable in planning the work 10 tlie besi advantage'.” Apart from employing workless men on reproductive jobs, and on farms, it is doubtful if the Board’s funds could be spent to better purpose than in brightening the. surroundings of schools, and providing all the nppurten. anoes that, make for a strong body as well as fora strong mind.