THE UNEMPLOYED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 285, 13 September 1933, Page 3

THE UNEMPLOYED

ALLOCATION FOR RELIEF.

NO CHANCE OF INCREASE.

(Per Press Association)

ELTHAM, September 12. Stating that the country could not stand any more taxation for relief, the deputy-chairman of the Unemployment Board (Mr J. S. Jessep) told the Eltham Belief Committee that, taking the total at, say, 70,000, it would cost another £1,820,000 to provide one extra day',s work a man a week. There was definitely no chance of an increase in the allocation. It might be decreased as the summer came on. If work was offering the State could not afford to* find relief. A single man should shift for himself.

The board wished to get back to normality as soon as opportunity occurled, Mr Jessep said. It was always difficult, to retrace one's steps, but it had to be done. For the men in New Zealand to face the situation as a permanency Could not be contemplated. It Avas sometimes inferred that the No. 5 Scheme was permanent employment. It was not, and as soon as the country was of opinion* that ordinary work was offering, then the country would not be prepared to keep men on the No. 5 ro any other scheme. In answer to a question, Mr Jessep said he could cite any number of cases where useful work was deferred, and the board had been told that men preferred to remain on the No. 5 Scheme. v

It is understood that an important statement affecting relief work will be made by Mr Jessep very shortly.