A WELLINGTON IDEA

Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1931, Page 3

A WELLINGTON IDEA

EMERGENCY SCHEME PROMISED BY PREMIER. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association) r . WELLINGTON, June 16. An effort is being made by the Government to devise a temporary plan of -relief to avoid undue distress arising out of the proposed abandonment 'of the Unemployment Board’s (No.: 5 Scheme from' next Saturday, and to afford some measure of assistance to the army of 40,000 workless until Parliament can deal with the question of providing the Board with more money.

.This statement . was made by the Prime Minister in reply to a deputation from the Wellington Citizens’ Unemployment Committejej which waitled upon him and the Minister of Labour to-day. Both the Prime 'Minister and the Minister of Labour failed to express any sympathy with the proposal put forward by the 'Chairman of the Committee, Mr J. J. Goldsmith, that the single unemployed men throughout (New Zealand should be placed in the lexilsting military camps, under some form of discipline.

Mr Forbes said that this suggestion was good in theory, but it would not be practicable. The effect of the abandonment of the No. 5 Scheme was emphasised by the deputation, which advanced an alternative system, of relief for the consideration of .the Government.

Mr 'Forbes promised that Parkament would be asked to deal • with the question almost as soon as it met. and he expressed the opinion thitrthere ' would be little or no opposition to the proposals he intended to place before the House. .. '

The Mayor, Mr Hislop. said 'that the Wellington City Council’s finances •hein" ’n a difficult position, it would be entirely unable to do anythin", towards assisting the' men. The Cooperation was -finding it hard to retain its own staff. The suspension of the benefits under the scheme would mean -that about 3000, or • 4000 men would be thrown coiripletely out of work in Wellington alone. air Goldsmith said the Hospital mu Uhar.Lable Aid T> ’ was already heavily burdened, and it would be (further deluged with '•nnlications for assistance.

non. Mr Smith; “Why should it be deluged this .week, when the scheme has not yet ceased?”

air Goldsmith said that men were living , from hand to mouth, and the mqiny of many was mortgaged before they received it. Evidence couid be produced; proving that men, women and chddren were starving in m ellington. : The Prime Minister said that similar statements had been made by others, but the evidence of social ” organisations was to the contrary, if this assertion was true, a hen the social organisations had urokeu down, out ih.s was not so. '

LVI-r -Goldsmith said that the Committee's suggestion was that all. single nun should be -taken out of the towns, and placed in camps. Trentham would be suitable for the Wellington district and the other rrilitary establishments could be requisitioned for., the other centres. Some form of discipline, he said, would be required, and chose in the camps should be. made to ta*e physical exercise and attend !e----tures. They would also oe given work near the camps. Mr'Goldsmith, said it was also suggested that the No. 5 Scheme should be continued for married men, am! that -the rule providing for a man to stand down every fourth week should be abolished. The Comrirtb e"s proposal was that a married man with a wife only should get three days work a week, and a man with one childthree and a half days’ work ; a man with two children, four days ; a man with three children four and a half days’ work; and a man with four or more children five days’ work.

The Prime Minister said there was up - law by .which • the singly, men could be forcett to go into Camp/iif The Minister of Labour said th-t persona!, representations had be'-n made, by certain Labour Leaders, who objected to the proposal.

Mr Forb s said he recognised tV seriousness of the position, and he realised that the various voluntary organisations were doing wonderful work I’u r lieving distress. He had hop> d the No. 5 Scheme could be continu'd until Parliament met, but this had proved impossible. It was urged that more funds should be provided f ; »r the Unemployment Board, and no time would, be lost asking Parliament to do this as soon as it met. At the same time, the various organisations should do all .they could to assist. In the meantime, Mr Forbes said, he was conferring with the Minister of. Concerning . th?/ possibility of ’ tiding thei men -over, he. hoped to be able to announce the result of their efforts some time this week. TV camp scheme would not appeal to men as they would be cooped up when they could be free. Unless those in charge of the camps had definite disciplinary powers, the scheme * would be hopeless, and no power existed to • put men into camps. The laical Bodies had telegraphed him, asking for the retention of fhe scheme-, and it was hoped that something could, be done, even if onlv in a modified form.

‘Mr F. T). 'Cornwell suggested tin* the Prime Minister should confer with the other party -leaders on the question. ? ? . Mr Forbes said he did not think this - necessary. -In the past,/ uneinpby-

monfc" ha*d‘‘b(?en' treated as a ' non-pa'rty snl) cot. He did not think the House "onld raise any opposition to hi;; proposals.