DISTRESS RELIEF

Hokitika Guardian, 29 April 1932, Page 5

DISTRESS RELIEF

GOVERNMENT PLAN

REPLY BY OPPOSITION.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association}

WELLINGTON, April 27. In the House, Air M. E. Holland said the country had been expect 11,4 the Minister’s statement that he would make some provision for women who were contributing to the unemployment lund. The Alinister had rule;rod to local voluntary organisations and had declared the Government looked to these committees to provide for women, but no adequate provision was made for these committees. 'I lie position ol the women was infinitely worse than that of the nun. The

whole moral well-being of the Dominion was wrapped up in the welfare of the women. He characterised the 1 Minister’s .statement as altogether inadequate, and wholly lacking in efficacy. As a measure to remedy the existing evils of unemployment, it had fallen far short nut only of what the unemployed had been expecting, but also of what the general public: had been led to expect. Air Atmoro sa d that the Government still failed to realise this was not the time for decreasing the people’s purchasing power, -and that the way out would' be to increase the purchasing power. The .Minister’s new scheme would certainly do noth'ng to allay unrest. It would merely serve to intensify the feeling of uneasiness. After a number of J.about members had spoken. Air Coates said ho was bound to admit a number of people would be disappointed with the scheme, but mainly because they had been misled as to tile ability of the country’s finances to deal with the position. He asserted that in spite of criticism New Zealand’s effort today, to cope with the unemployment problem was better than that in other countries. It was apparent that many did not yet realise the country and the people had their backs to the wall, and were fighting for very existence. The Alinister said that organisation in connection with the unemployment scheme was being completely overhauled, and this task would ho completed in about eight days, at least so far as most places were concerned. The Board would see that where work' could not he provided, people would at least he fed. Air Semple: Does that mean you will give sustenance. Air Coates: Yes in food and possibly some cash.

He gave jui assurance that reFef would be offered ill a tnnnner that would cause no irritation. There would bo ho call for women atid childmu to line Up i)i queues. He was convinced Mint tho new solmitu* would bo infinitely superior and far more generous than any previous contribution to the unemployment problem. Replying to an interjection, relating to women, the Minister said that the women’s organisations had assured him they were able to handle the situation.

WAGE CUT OPPOSED. OAATA.RU, April 28

At the annual meeting of the Oamar.i Returned Foliliers’ Association tonight, resolutions were passed condemn" ing the action of the Government reducing the soldiers’ pensions and also the action of the R.S.A. headquarters in compromising in regard to these cuts to pensions.