RELIEF SCHEME NO. 2.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4541, 9 December 1930, Page 3

RELIEF SCHEME NO. 2.

CREATING PROPERTIED MENDICANT CLASS. Air. W. iMaddison, writes as follows to the Evening Post: — “The Unemployment Board’s scheme No. 2 has created not only surprise, hut 'alarm. It seems definitely laid down that unemployment funds not only may, hut are to be used for the purpose of improving the property of those who ■are in a- better position than are •tho majority of the -contributors to the scheme. This opens the door (o all who happen to own a hit of property of getting something for itiling, -at file expense of the workers, and with the approbation of the Government. Under such cir- < uinstancos we piay expect- that most of the future work will lie held up in the hopo of getting a subsidy, and so creating a propertied mendicant- class. All those who are in a position to benefit by Ibis scheme No. 2 have had the full benefit of the past good limes, if.' 10-dny they cannot- carry on without the aid of funds designed to assist the unemployed, then if can only he due to their past extravagance, and they have no moral right lo expect ttie poor to find the money to pay for that. “Tlie position created is iniquitous and inequitable. Am 1, because I am unemployed, to pay my last 7/0 to the levy for the purpose of improving the property of a man who is at any rate better off than I am, on the pretext of finding work for another man? If iliis is the sum total of ‘the hoard’s idea, of equity and fair dealing, I hen it will not be long before they receive a very rude shock.”