END OF THE DOLE

Hokitika Guardian, 19 May 1933, Page 7

END OF THE DOLE

NEW SOUTH WALES CHANGE

NO BAY WITHOUT’ WORK

The end of the dole system in New South Wales ha« conic. The present Government will not continue it. The Bavin Ministry, with a. few thousand men” out e\i employment, decided against the dole «nd provided men with dork. A correspondent says:— ‘‘The scheme was not altogether successful, hut the work was in the nature of an experiment and the plan could have been improved on the 3:1 in the pound wlages tax. The Lang Gov'ernmeat came into power. It disapproved of giving men work, and increased the wages tax to Is in the pound. In less than two years there were ICO,GOO people drawing the dole. Even then they were not happy. There wore continual complaints and demands.

The Stevens Government in ■ nine months has wiped out the .30,000. But the dole has been a big problem. Everywhere there is evidence of disinterest 'in getting away from the dole. Thousands of men have lost their punch and their desire to do anything more than hold their hands out for the coupons or the money that has been allotted to them. The disinclination to work is reflected in many homes where there is absolute neglect. Men who prided themselves on, their gardens when times were good have allowed them to get into neglect, not even growing vegetables to eke out the dole.

I “A close study of the psychology of the unemployed has given the Government an Idea that men wpuld sooner work for the money they receive. A scheme has been drawn up whereby the municipalities or shires in which the unemployed live will provide the money, paying the men more than they would receive if they were living on the dole, and giving them the right to spend' it as they choose. A single man gets rations which cost os 4ld a week, and they have managed to live on it. Under the. new system tba man will ibe expected to work for six hours anci will . receive 9s. 41-d. . -V • Married men. without children’ receive dole’ relief to 1 the extent of 8s 2sd a- week. Under the new scheme there will be’lo hours’' work and'los 7d in.- payment. And so. the scale goes on until it reaches married men with six or seven children, who have been, receiving relief costing 2os 2d a week. The former will work 22 hours and receive £1 14s 3d, .and ; the , latter 24 hours, for which there will be' 1 a. payment of ,£1 17s sd, Approximately v the wage works out at £3 14s for. a 48-hour ■ week. ” ■