Welfare nation now too well fed
In reference to Phil Hickling’s letter regarding tapping into the labour force within the prison walls (November 18), Iwould like to report that it has been done before.
In the 1930s, myfatherwasthe manager on a government farm at Mapui, in the King Country.
Onthe property wasa large barrack-type building which housed several reformable inmates, from nearby Waikeria prison, whowere the workers on the farm.
The scheme seemed to work well and as I rememberthemenappeared happy to be there.
Idon’tknowwhenthe scheme ended, possibly with the onset of Worldwarii.
Another source of labour for the fruit and vegetable picking would surely be a fewof the nearly 370,000 working-age people receiving amain benefit (as at the end of September 2020.)
In the days of the swaggieswhen there wereno benefits, those guys did anything to earn a fewbob or ameal.
Iwonder if Mickey Savage’s welfare nation has becomea too wellfed nation.
Gwynethjones Greerton