Solving the Unemployment Problem

Radio Record, Volume VI, Issue 7, 26 August 1932, Unnumbered Page

Solving the Unemployment Problem

An appeal broadcast from Station 2ZW by His Worship the Mayor of Wellington, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop. .

NE-THIRD of the registered unemployed in Wellington to-day are men who in normal times have been directly employed by the building trade. It is therefore clear that if we can succeed in stimulating building activity the unemployment situation in this city will be substantially improved. If we ean increase the activities of the building industry, certainly one of our key industries, all other industries must share in the benefit. How can citizens to-day help to put men, now on relief work, back into their normal occupations in the build. ing industry? The answer is simple. Put in hand now all necessary re pair and renovation work. The longey you delay this the greater is the depreciation of your property, the greater the ultimate cost. A stitch in time saves nine. Of nothing is this more true than of buildings. Thousands of houses in Wellington to-day require minor repairs, spoutings, drainpipes, renewal of boards, painting and the thousand and one items in a house. The longer delayed the greater the job that ultimately must be done, and therefore the greater the expense. It is sound business to do these jobs to-day; _it is not’only better for the individual, but in helping himself he helps the whole community. Start on your repairs now, no matter how small they be, each one job helps. "Many a mickle makes a muckle." Two thousand jobs of £10 will give a total fund of £20,000 to put good men, our fellow citizens, back in their normal employmes;, and will start a flow of money through useful channels in the community and so help us on our road to national restoration. Building costs to-day are the lowest for a period of 20 years. Take the benefit of the fall in costs. Take the further benefit that is just now available . of .the Government gubsidy ‘on

labour costs. The Government pays today a subsidy on all labour costs for workers engaged through the Govern-

ment Labour Bureau. Therefore, if you do your jobs to-day you gain three definite advantages :- (1) You save further depreciation to your property and avoid ultimate greater expense. (2) You get the advantage of costs, the lowest for 20 years. (3) You gain the advantage of Goyernment subsidy. Therefore, what you do to-day you can do more cheaply than ever before, and I think, more cheaply than you will be able to do the work in the future. Therefore now is the time. Above all, while directly benefiting yourselves you help your city and your country and all those of your fellowcountrymen and countrywomen wha are.in distress today. Do it. now.