THOUGHTS OF THE TIMES.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 June 1931, Page 4

THOUGHTS OF THE TIMES.

THE UNEMPLOYED. There- has been a. great deal of criticism of the Unemployment Board’s policy, but critics have not been particularly lavish with constructive alteian,Lives. To sayl that* the unemployed should be put to productive work is to* state the obvious in a general way; the difficulty is just the finding of productive work that unemployed can do. It is not suggested, of course, that there is no fault to be found with the Board’s handling of the situation, but it is suggested that the task of making contact between worker and production' is much more difficult than is generally realised- A large number of unemployed are not fit to work on the land, and even with tho'e who are, it takes a long while to bring land into production. —Northern Paper.

. The entries for the Arahura fat stock sale at Arahura on Monday ap- j pear in tjiis issue. ~vv ~ A short time ago the New Zealand v Meat Producers’ Hoard announced a reduction 1 in the shipping rate on tallow to the United Kingdom from £4 to £3 10s per ton as irom Ist April, 1931. The Board is now able to announce a further reduction in the freight rate on tallow, the ne\y rate (a s from Ist July) being 67s 6d per ton. A reduction has ajso been made in the shipping freight rate on casings to the United Kingdom from 100 s to 90s per ton as from Ist July, 1931. All rates named above are plus usual primage.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of -. ■ / Lodge Westland No. 89 was held in, .V* the ledge room on Thursday' 18st. • • ' inst A.D. Bro. C. Gutberlet - over a fair attendance of members. . The officers roll was called and attendance noted. Minutes of the previous melting were read and confirmed.. Bards report three members on the sick list and sick pay to the amount o-. £1 4s and accounts £5 2s 8d were passed for payment. Discussion took place re tne formation of a Debating Club, it, was decided to call a special . meeting for Monday night the 22nd. , . ir.st to discuss same, The Lodge then -. closed in harmony,

In res ponce to representations made bv him tot tile Minister of Public Works, Mr J. O’Brieri At.P ( has received the following wire from the Hon. Minister: “J. O’Brien, Esq., M.P., Greytnouth:—Witn reference to your telegram re the Kumara Juno* tion-Kapitea Road I am prepared to authorise the amounts available under last year’s Estimates, provided the Westland County Council accepts authority against the current year’s allocation. (Signed) W. B. Taverner, -Minister Public Works.” Air O’Brien yesterday communicated with Mr D. J. Evans, Clerk of the Westland County, who stated that the Council would be agreeable to accept the authority, and as soon as possible the work will be started by day labour, so. as to provide as much work as possible for the unemployed.