MEETINGS A FIASCO

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 89, 25 January 1934, Page 6

MEETINGS A FIASCO

a UNEMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE.

MEMBERS TAKE FIRM STAND.

USELESSNESS OF ATTENDANCE. BOARD’S BREACH OF FAITH. The Ashburton. Local Unemployment Committee met this afternoon, the Mayor l(Mr W, H- Woods) presiding. it was reported that there was an increase of 38 men on the register for all' the schemes, compared with the number at the same time last year. The figures for the various schemes, with those for 1933 given in parentheses, are as follow: Scheme No. 4a, 1 (33); Scheme No. 5, 326 (346), Scheme No. 6c (camp), 25 (nil); Scheme No. 10 (building), 96 (31). Tho acting-secretary (Mr G. Kelly) reported that there were 19 A Class, 225 B Class, and 122 O Class men on the register, a total of 366. The allocation was £482 18s 4d, and one, two and three days would absorb £4lo 2s 6d. It was stated that if all the men did not report for work, all the money available could not be utilised, ilieie was so much allowed per man who applied for work and the number' who applied did not affect the amount per man. . The Certifying Officer (Mr W. J. Miuogue) said that the total amount of £482 18s 4d would be used if the full number of men reported for work.

“Working in the Dark.” The chairman said that the committee was working in the dark. r lhe Board refused to inform tho committee as to the basis of the allocation. Mr W. G. Gallagher asked what was the use of the members attending the committee meetings. There was nothing for the committee to do. 'Mr Kelly said the only thing the committee could do was to decide who was eligible for relief. The Board allocated so much money per man in the three groups and if the committee could save some in one group it could transfer it to another group. It was scarcely worth while the sub-commit-tee meeting. Mr Minogue said the special committee was valuable because of its special knowledge of individual cases. Mr Gallagher said it was hopeless to carry on. The Thursday meetings were a fiasco. . , The chairman said that he had seen that the Mayor of Oamaru (Mr M. F. Cooney) had made a statement similar to that made in Ashburton. The Boaid was apparently afraid to show something to the committee. The basis of the allocation was not advised. He considered the Board’s actions a Ineacii oti faith. The committee was not i« the confidence of the Board ; that was evident.. Efforts Not Appreciated. “I feel very reluctant indeed to say that this comirnttee will not meet a train,” continued Mr Woods. its efforts are clearly not appreciated and its actions apparently do not justify the Board’s confidence.” . Mr Minogue said that as certifying officer he greatly appreciated! the value of the committee and did not want to do the work alone. Members agreed that the certifying •officer had to act under instructions. The chairman stressed the fact of the committee’s local knowledge as of value in coming to decisions. It had to he -admitted that the committee had always taken a very broad view and had considered every matter most impartially. Oamaru and 1 Gisborne had taken stands. It was evident that the small districts were not getting a fair deal, any saving in those parts being of benefit in the large centres. Where there is a certain influence there is no compunction about this,” he added. Mr Kelly said the committee could still do some very valuable work he considered. It should be called at times in the interests of tho men. The chairman said his only reluctance in ceasing to operate was the ieeling of an obligation to tho community represented. The members were present as the representatives of sections of the public and bad a ceitam obligation to them. However, no thought the committee would be justified in suspending its operations until' it could come to some definite understanding with the Board. Should Resign as a Protest, Mr H A Knight (president of tho Ashburton Belief Workers’ Union) said his executive thought tho committee should resign as a nrp.te.st Tho chairman said ho did not like the idea of resigning as a protest. Mr Kelly moved and Mr Gallaghei seconded —• “That this committee feels that under the new regulations oB the Unemployment Board in regard to allocations its services in that respect are not wanted and that it therefore meet only when other business necessitates it.”

The resolution was carried without a dissentient. . , , The chairman was authorised to send a covering letter to the Board stating that this action had been found necessary as a result of tlie lack of-co-operation between the Board and the committee and of the withholding of essential information regarding the basi.3 of the allocation from the committee. ; J 1 • The certifying officer/ expressed Ins sincere thanks to the committee for its services and his regret that it coum not carry on on the old lines.