MORE GENERALISATION

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 275, 15 July 1932, Page 4

MORE GENERALISATION

The allegations of abuse of the 4a scheme on the part of farmers, emanating from the Mayor of Eltham and supported vigorously in Auckland demand some attention. The pronouncements upon the position are characterised by an extravagance of language which does something to off-set their force, but at the same time, the position is one which requires investigation. The use of terms such as "abject serfdom" and "absolute slavery" savours more than a little of soap-box oratory, but without indulging in perfervid rhetoric, there is still apparent an urgent necessity for an overhaul of the system and a tightening up of this particular scheme. Definite cases of abuse of the scheme were quoted by the Mayor of Eltham, and we have no hesitation in expressing the opinion that a thorough investigation would reveal many more. Farmers, as the secretary of the Auckland branch of the Farmers' Union pointed out, are no better and no worse than other people. On the other hand,; however, the Eltham Unemployment Committee and the other commentators have presented only one side of the question. If farmers are no better and no worse than other people, neither are relief workers. Inevitably there will be cases of abuse on the part of farmers, but just as inevitably there will be cases of abuse on the part of the relief men. Instances of this have from time to time appeared in the press, and these cases together with others which never reach the publication stage, have done something to antagonise the public against the great body of conscientous men who are endeavouring to make the best of the lack of even a bad job. Sweeping generalisations of the type employed in Auckland and Eltham are not only dangerous, but unjust to both parties. Inevitably there must be abuses, but they are not confmed to either employer or employee, nor do they apply to the great body either of the relief workers or of the farmers. Exceptions do not prove the rule. At the same time, however, one of the many weaknesses of the 4a scheme is the opportunities which it affords the unscrupulous — either relief worker or farmer — to exploit the scheme and the general taxpayer for his own ends. As Mr. M. J. Savage, M.P., pointed out, the whole position should be thoroughly investigated by persons not interested in the political aspect, and steps should be taken as far as possible to ensure a supervision which will safeguard both the farmer and the worker.