Feilding Unemployment Allocation

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7281, 7 October 1933, Page 3

Feilding Unemployment Allocation

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Kef erring to the reduction of the local unemployment allocation, though there is no doubt sonic satisfaction in the fact that our local unemployment committee has decided to register a protest against this cut being applied so early in the season, it should also arouse* serious_ questioning in the mind, of every Peilding citizen. The reason given is prospective seasonal employment, but seasonal employment is not at; its height in this district till January and February, so it can be seen why hist year’s cut, which operated round about December, should be considered too early by our local Unemployment Committee. Then why bring this cut in now? During the last month seasonal employment has made no reduction in the ranks of the locally unemployed, and there seems no likely prospects in that direction for another six weeks at least. Then, while penalising the already suffering unemployed, how can this cut be any benefit to the community generally. “The business people, and employees generally, are still paying their unemployment. tax; there is still the same amount going out of Feilding toward the upkeep of the unemployed, but the amount that comes hack by way of unemployment pay is now reduced. _ It is not a princely sum, and when divided among our 207 unemployed, allows foi nothing beyond the bare necessities of life; thereforo practically all that conics back, finds its way into the tills of local business men. It follows, then, that when the unemployed get less, there is less trade, which in turn has the effect of turning xu ore into the ranks of the unemployed as business people cannot go on for ever on steadily decreasing trade. The obvious conclusion, then, is.that this cut can only harass the business people of Foil ding, and perhaps further swell the ranks of the unemployed, and that these conditions will only serve to counteract much of the benefit that may bo derived from seasonal emulovment later on. —I am, etc., ~ “FOK PUBLIC GOOD.” Feilding, Oct., l>, 1933.