Herald & Lantern 21 October B1

21

Work Fare Plan Urged For State

MILLVILLE - Lant year welfare recipients received over two hundred million dollars from the State of New jerseys To earn this money, all that was required was that the beneficiary register with a welfare of ice. comlete appropriate forms, and ^receive his or her check. As a State Senator, Edward H. Salmon hopes to initiate a work fare project which would eliminate the “somethipg-for-nothing” attitude instilled in the current welfare program. The work fare pjpn, based on WPA 'programs of. the Deparession, would' reouirfe recipients to earn welfare benefits. '•THE PROGRAM WOULD rft>t only instill g ride in the community, ut also would help individuals renew a pride in themselves. I believe most. American citizens do not want a handout. They may need assistance and that should be available. Evtay man and woman should have the means available to support his family even if that means state or federal assistance.. However, giving money away is detrimental to the individual and to the state," Salmon declared. Accordfng to the program proposed by Salmon, federal and state funds, currently distributed directly to welfare recipients, would be issued instead to a local assistance board. The board, composed of community members, would distribute . pay checks to the recipients only after these recipients had performed a useful community service.

SERVICES COULD INCLUDE removing debris and litter, removing snow, aiding senior citizens, or helping with day care centers. These services might aid existing ovei burdeiMxl city services. Talents of welfare fecipients would be utilized in fulfilling their obligations. Guidelines currently used in welfare and unemployment would be utilized to assure adequate financial assistance for each applicant. Personnel working in welfare offices could administer the new program 4 EXAMPLES OF the project might include: An unemployed father with a family to support would work for three days cleaning litter and debris from the city streets. Two days a week would be his to look for permanent employment. The local assistance board would deliver his check at the end of the week. A mother, who is the sole support for her three children, would volunteer her services five half-days a week at the citysponsored day care center. The job would not only provide her financial support, but also would E rovide educational enefits for her children. The city day center would also be available for

working women within the community. SALMON DEVELOPED the work fare idea while mayor of Millville. Although the program never received federal approval, it received favorable response from community and stae leaders. Salmon commented, "To accomplish such an expansive program the cooperation of federal, state, county and. local authorities would be

needed.

"In times of high unemployment and spiraling inflation, citizens need assistance and also need to feel they are responsible. Contributing members of the com- , munity," Salmon said, "The work fare .program would provide both financial assistance and incentives to be conscientious citizens within the community. Also, taxpayers who contribute

Farmland Inroads Slowing

MAYS LANDING - A high percentage of New Jersey residents who participated in a recent survey of possible future approaches to soil and water conservation in the state favored retsfining and strengthening- present forms of conservation programs. said a USDA-Soil Conservation' Service

spokespeikon.

Thornton J. F\ Hole,

to welfare would receive • district conservationist services for their tax hcre said .'Existing

dollar.”

A SECONDARY BENEFIT of work fare would be that individuals,

federal programs rely chiefly on research, persuasion, technical, assistance, grants, loans

while working for the an( j cos t sharing that supcommunity, would be plernent private and

accumulating new skilsl and new sources of reference, Salmon said. These references would lead to welfare recipients' becoming self-sufficient,

he added.

"I am against people getting something for free, but people are entitled to a job,” Salmon went on. "The work fare program is a Make-New-Jersey-Beau-tiful project, while helping

nonfederal conservation action. Technical assistance and cost sharing are offered on a voluntary basis with individuals making most of the decisions on which specific practices to

adopt."

"DURING THE LAST three years," he said, "the Soil Conservation Service, ' cooperating with the New Jersey Department of

those who need financiaL^ Agriculture and the State assistance. It is a Soil Conservation Commitreciprocal agreement in tee . has called on the peowhich everyone benefits." pie of New Jersey to ex-

press their views on soil and water concerns and problems, and possible solutions." "This information was gathered after Congress passed the Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act of 1977," Hole Said, "the act directed the U S. Secretary of Agriculture to continually appraise the nonfedferal soil, water and related resources of the nation so the federal government, in cooperatiu^with local units of goveimient. other concerned land owners and groups, can continue to develop effective conservation programs." "THE RESPONSES." he continued, "expressed strong agreement for the need to: reduce soil erosion, maintainkoil quality, retain prime farmland, reduce flood damage, redutfe toxic pollutants, and use organic wastes. The survey also showed many people believe education is a primary key to good use of the nation's resources." r Hole said. "Only 12 percent of the total responses came from the northeast

area which included New • Jersey However, this atca ' of high population centers its acutely affected by soil . and water prpblems.” -tiENKRAl.I.V." 1IOI.K said, "comments expressed more support for the Strategies that would integrate into voluntary pro 1 grams with local control and liberal federal funding ' -Now more accurate Infor . mation is available than ever before "about how we are using the land and how the uses chanfflc in an industrial society with a growing population." There are 631,000 acres of cultivated crops and 45.000 acres of orchards, vineyards, and bush fruits such as blueberries in New Jersey.' Total cropland amounts to TTf.OOO acres, a 14 percent /eduction from 1967' The primflrv cause of this Joss is Urban residential and industrial expansion. In New Jersey, an average of 18,000 attfes disappeared under urban and industrial buildup each year during the 60's and early 70’s. This figure has dropped since because of a decrease in construction—a result of a high interest rates

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