WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 July 1932, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS

• LABOUR ON' FARMS. UNFAIR CRITICISM. (From a Correspondent), WELLINGTON, July 19. The Hon. Adam 'Hamilton, Acting ‘Minister of Labour during the absence of the ißighf. 'Hon. J. C. Coates at . the iOtfcawa Conference, is protesting strongly against the allegations made by thri Mayor of Eltham in regard to' the treatment by farmers in his district o’l men employed under the 4A relief scheme. Fifty "per cent, .of the men so employed in his district, His Worship :i s alleged to have said, are getting nothing more than food, and every mail so employed is practically putting another out of ‘work and beyond the means of self support. Tins statement, Mr Hamilton declares, is entirely ■posed to the principle of the .scheme the Government has laid down anc; sought to enforce. It is for the local committees, ‘says the Minister, to > set chat the different schemes- are abuse; as 'little as possible, and if the mayo, .of Eltham has noticed irregularities he should report them to the responsibl : authorities at once. SCANTY INFORMATION. The “Dominion” talcing up. its cudgel on behalf of Mr Hamilton shows that; the Mayor of (Eltham was not fua'.y in formed as to the distribution of relief , work within his' borough. ‘‘Any system;’ of unemployment relief which is open to abuse,’’ it says, “is liable to be th. subject of Suspicions and allegations. The best that can be hoped is that all parties concerned will play the gam, fairly.” But the Acting Minister of Employment refute® the allegations made by the /Mayor of Eltham and quotes, ' figures to show that they were based or inaccurate, information. “The point tc be noted” emphasises the morning paper, “is that the local .committees areresponsible for the prevent:on o abuses. If 'this really is the case the'surely the local committees should b< nuch'iholpn aler; than some of them aftei • a casual glance of their activities ap pear to- be; LACK OF OVERSIGHT. i That there are many indifferent ser •; vices rendered by “unemployed” worker: within easy reach of the capital cit; has to be • admitted. In the suburbs from . five to fifteen miles from ‘ Panlia me-nt House, groups of from ten t '• wenty. fairly sturdy looking mqu nia> 'be seen handling a t pick or a shov at the rate of about six efforts to the minute with lengshy rests between th rVen, Then there are morning .an afternoon teas harmonizing with th mid-day meal, which properly runs int a ful' 1 . hour with the. principa? "smokeoh” to follow. Of’ course |< with larg::. IgangsVarifl'-more Selective - oversight ■th work proceeds less leisurely, but even bere~a^”is-"easy to' fsee ;: tßMfithe ;“'unem-ployed’7'are-mot altogether satisfied with thei.r remuneration,', Mr Hamilton- esti of .the .three am ' ■a hail millions spent on r°lief V"'" -1 :4iis year >iH be remunerative. Why not the. whole;? y .... , “THE BEST 'SERVICE. Apropos of the value of gratuitou: advice offered to the State by. privatindividuals and associated bodies, it ; interesting to glance over the out'ii. of a speech delivered by Mr J.ri V Andrews at the annual meeting of -h ''Lower Hutt 'Chamber of Commerce. Although not .a supporter, of Gpver ment interference, Mr Andrews said.he . omsidered the attacks made upon i wer 6 overdone. The permanent officer of one of the bodies he had in min' seemed to be ■ engaged in working up the best of a number of poor case: against public bodies. At least on; large undertaking iliad been delayed by the publication of these attacks. Practically all the more or less .important chambers, Mr Andrews declared, were engaged in working up as best they, couid poor cases; against' public bodies! which were doing' what they conceived to be advisable for the good of the community at large. '