RELIEF WORKERS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 151, 7 April 1933, Page 3

RELIEF WORKERS

A QUESTION OF EARNINGS. MEN IN PRIVATE EMPLOYMENT. (Special to the “ Guardian.”) AUCKLAND, April 6. The policy of the Unemployment Board regarding the supplementary earnings of relief workers was defined by Air W. Bromley, in speaking to an Auckland deputation, as being one of encouragement and not penalisation. Neither Minister nor Board, said Air Bromley, had ever suggested that the amount of money a man received by way of unemployment relief was sufficient for him to meet the requirements of the home. There were some 300 officers, and it was possible that the instructions issued might be subject to 300 interpretations, but he did not think that had been the experience. With the object of assisting the men, the Board had hesitated to lay down hard and fast rules, but if it were shown that administration was not sympathetic, the Board would have to issue definite instructions fix-' ing the exact proportions. The Board had not laid down a maximum, and there was evidence that a good deal of sympathy had been shown in administration. “Our idea,” he added, “is to encourage the men to look for more work than we can possible give them within the limits of our finances. For example, if a man receives casual work for one week, and the. employer is generous enough to pay him £lO for the job, we do. not ivant the officer to take any notice of it. But if it is a matter of collusion between the employing authority and the fund to ‘work’ .something irregular, the Supplementary amounts earned must be taken into consideration. Last week we were contemplating instructing our certifying officers as to what amount should be deducted, and it now looks as though wo will have to make it so definite that there can be no room for misunderstanding or mistake.” MOUNT HUTT COMMITTEE The Alount Hutt Unemployment Relief Committee met on Wednesday when there were present Alessrs F. \Y - Ruddenklau, Alarr. Wilson, Campion, Battson, S. Buckett (certifying officer), the Rev. R. Morgan and Mr A. G. Foreman (hon. secretary). The secretary reported that the No. 5 .Scheme had been recommenced. The number of registrations was 17 but only 13 men had reported for work on Alonday. The allocation received for the next three weeks was £lB 16s. The certifying officer reported that the No. 5 was the only, scheme restarted in tlie district, the No. 4A scheme being still in abeyance. The secretary reported that the men working .under * No. 5 scheme were removing a dangerous bank at the corner of Barker’s Road and Rack Track.