“PUT WORKLESS ON THE LAND”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 168, 6 October 1927, Page 15

“PUT WORKLESS ON THE LAND”

CIVIC LEAGUE’S IDEA REMEDY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT “Turn the unemployed into market gardeners” This suggestion for the solution of the problem of Auckland’s workless workers was put forward by the Civic League to-day. The league’s report states: “It considered that the present plan of providing temporary work is ineffective, and unproductive of the best results that might be obtained by a different use of the funds so liberally provided by the public. “Unless the unemployed are assisted to help themselves, this appeal to the public will be recurrent, and year after year, increasing sums of money will have to be found, practically by the same section of the public.” FIVE ACRES EACH The league puts forward the following tentative plan: Every man who is fit, and especially those with family ties, should be given the chance to occupy, say, five acres of ground rent free, on which the committee in charge of the funds would place a two-roomed shelter, transferable or otherwise. No sale of the ground and no lease to be given. The necessary tools, seeds, etc., to be provided and instruction to be given where necessary. While awaiting returns from the ground, orders for food should be given but no money should be paid. A good market could be got for such products as flowers and seedlings, potatoes, asparagus, celery, onions, strawberries, passionfruit, and tomatoes. Bees, poultry and pigs could be kept. “Even if only 50 men could be taken from the ranks of those hopeless of constant employment, and become producers, it would be a benefit to themselves and the community.” The league considers that the unemployment committee might well have Included some of the many women who take an interest in public affairs. 7% 7% $£ SK nHST