UNEMPLOYMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 23 May 1931, Page 5

UNEMPLOYMENT

N.S.W. RECORD.

(Australian Press Association.)

SYDNEY, May 22

The unemployed registrations in New South Wales have now reached the record total of one hundred and fifteen thousand.

The dole is now costing the Uovremnent £300,000 per month. The total expenditure for the ten' months ended on April 30th was C 1.343.000, but the present rate of expenditure is 03,500,000 per year. NEW SCHEME. RELIEF WITHOUT WASTE, PALMFJISTOX N., May 22. At the inter-Provincial FarnrUnion Conference, Mr J. ,K. Franklin (Wanganui) submitted a scheme to deal with unemployment. It was decided to send the scheme to Dominion headquarters, with a recommendation that something he done on the lines suggested, Mr Franklin pointed out that skilled experienced workers were being thrown into the ranks of the unemployed, with j no practical scheme to employ them. Tie viewed with alarm that no step*. [ were taken to assist production. The methods employed seemed to hare in** creased employment. The scheme should not draw men from other miemi plyomoht. Aft far ns possible work should, keep unemployed in food and clothing at a cheaper rate than at present. He suggested the Government secure land undeveloped, as near the main centres as possible, land that was at least 50 per cent, suitable for close cultivating. By the production of tlieir own meat, butter, milk, eggs, etc.. ! these people could lie kept for 12 to 14 shillings a week. They could work under capable management, and be free to leave at any time to take up other j employment. The speaker claimed that 1 1 the scheme would encourage men -o 1 1 he self-reliant and prevent the waste 1 of the unemployed’s money at races, J ■ pubs, and pictures. An asset would,: be created for the State, useful work aone j and a home provided where the unem- *' ployed could he sent and' kept at 11 much cheaper rate than under the pre-' i sent system, which he said was ruining, the country and breaking down the ' charitable aid hoards.