UNEMPLOYMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 8 July 1932, Page 3

UNEMPLOYMENT

NOT A POLITICAL QUESTION'-, j f

ADVANTAGES BEING TAKEN. <)

(Per Press Association— Copyright.)

CHRISTCHURCH, July 77.; ' “It does appear to me most regfet-i table that unemployment has- be •

mad® a political- question both in--Par-liament and the Cffy Douncii, and'that frantic endeavours are being made-' to -take political .advantage of the economic necessities’ of go many thousands of deserving citizens-,”, stated ’M l ' H. D. A eland,' president of -the/’Citizens’ Association, speaking at' the' “annual meeting last evening. ■;

“Unemployment -is now being treated on a -national basis, so that; ratepayers' -'in the city are paying firtt .tlie luiempjdymeht levy and wages Yak'and, secondly, the subsidy through tne rates, is this- subsidy-being paid by any other local body in-New Zealand ? , , /

“I ishould dike?-to see a discussion qn a proposal to tiik© unemployment out “of”politics’' add 1 " aAvay fromCabiffeYs work altogether/’ -said Mr , Acland. "lor, whatever , the- result, P the pressure df , hard facts must ultimately, supersede tlie orator of tli e -soap box. Th© Government is now ,endeavpuiyng to pay £2 a week in currency or money, to .relief, workers.. .ij i

"‘The position of die Minister of Employment and every official concern-, ed in. administering the fund i.s ,'uiiuoubtedily a mu-'t difficult aiid . uh-, popula<r one, and full advantage of this has been taken ,by the Socialist Party in Parliament. ... /The board .- and-, the Minister of Employment; apppur v tq me :o be in the unfortunate .position that they can only do thuir work proper.y by incurring in a measure the odium ol everybody. Politicians don’t > like t his, and usually try to follow the advice given by Mr Pickwick, to shout ' with tlie. biggest crowd.” .