UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 233, 19 April 1928, Page 5

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF.

PUTARURU DISCUSSION. “ High School Curse.” At the last meeting of the Putaruru Town Board, Mr. A. E. Barr Brown, in reporting on the Municipal Conference, stated that the Mayor of Wellington, Mr. Troup, had brought down a scheme for provid- | ing relief for the unemployed which had provoked a very interesting dis- | cussion. In the speaker’s opinion the only possible way of dealing with unemployment was to find the cause. When they had found that there was some hope of curing the disease. A short discussion on the subject' then followed. Mr. Tomalin held that relief works simply meant that £3 was paid for £1 worth of work. Mr. Barr Brown: I told the conference that in my opinion the labour laws were the main cause of the trouble, and Mr. Fow, Mayor of Hamilton, strongly agreed. The speaker then quoted several instances to show that where possible employers were introducing machinery to do away with labour whenever possible as the latter could not be reliej upon.

Mr. Neal held that if the British Government, instead of introducing what was known as the “ dole,” had subsidised industry—such as iron and steel—they would have been in a far better position to-day. Similarly, our own Government should make inquiries into the timber industry. Since last meeting he had learned from reliable sources that if the tim-ber-milling industry could export second-class timber to Australia, v'here it was wanted, it would largely solve the present depression in that industry.

Mr. Yandle thought the trouble was mainly due to the high standard of living. Messrs. Tomalin and Barr Brown agreed with this view, the former stating he thought it was ruining the country, and also that High Schools were a curse.

The chairman disagreed with this view, holding that a high standard v as good, but that it was output per man that was wanted. In regard to High Schools, it was the curriculum that needed overhauling. Mr Lindsey disagreed with subsidies for industry. Protection was nothing but a subsidy, and the benefits went to the owners and not to the workers as was alleged. Subsidies only created millionaires, and did not benefit the worker. One of the biggest trade unions was that of the mills. If they were properly organised prices could be reduced and so create sales. There was a big degree of truth in the complaints re High Schools, but here he thought the trouble was that pupils did not get that general knowledge which was really helpful to them in the business world. If they were given a sound training in business principles there would be fewer bank- ' ruptcies. No resolution was passed, and the subject then dropped.