SELF – HELP CAMPAIGN

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1931, Page 6

SELF - HELP CAMPAIGN

FOR UNEMPLOYED MEN. CULTIVATION OF GARDEN PLOTS. “The impossibility of providing continuous work for the brought about a position freighted with grave results to the State and to the individuals concerned,” stated Mr J. S. Jessep, Deputy-Chairman of the Unemployment Board, in commenting upon the Board’s decision to make it a condition of relief that workers shall cultivate in their own time areas of land for the growing of vegetables and thus assist to maintain themselves.

“Some people affect to believe,’ continued Mr Jessep, “that tile State owes every individual a living;, but’ if that were so members of the community would have to yield individuality ol choice of occupation and take whatever kind and condition of living the State might offer. What the State owes is a fair chance to every individual 40 make his own living, compatible with the welfare of the rest of the community. To the extent of its resources, therefore, the Unemployment Board is going to give the unemployed an opportunity to supplement their relief pay by imposing upon them a policy of seli-help. “Thousands of residences throughout the Dominion have small plots of ground attached where vegetables sufficient for the needs of a lamily are grown, but there- ark thousands of .other similar areas where no attempts (or only spasmodic efforts) are made to augment the family income. The practical possibility of the scheme has been demonstrated by Self-Help Clubs at Stratford, in Taranaki, and in other localities, where the families of relief workers have considerably benefited.

“In cases where workers have no gjraund suitable for the growing of vegetables, local bodies and local committees are being asked to endeavour to secure for the use of workers areas of ground for this purpose. It should be possible in some localities to arrange for community plots, where competitive efforts would result in direct benefits to the individuals and xne community.

“The basic Idea behind the scheme.” concluded Mr Jessep,. “is to save tfie men from the possibility of moral and physical deterioration because ot enforced idleness, and at the same trme to provide an opportunity of securing additional income from directly re* ■productive effort. The Unemployment Board earnestly solicits the practical co-operation of all sections of the community in this self-help campaign, in the firm belief that if it is successfully carried through it will very materially assist in lessening the hardships of the unemployed during the coming year, and in providing useful employment in place of the present disastrous idleness.”

In connection with itlie foregoing the Unemployed Board has notified local bodies that only those to be employed after Ist. January will be men who are cultivating garden plots as some contribution towards their own sustenance.