BELIEF WORKERS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 138, 23 March 1935, Page 6

BELIEF WORKERS

THE RATES OF PAY. IMMEDIATE INCREASE URGED. THE MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE. (Per Press Association). CHRISTCHURCH, March 22. Advocacy of an immediate increase in relief rates for all grades of work for unemployed by 10s a week and a continuance of that increase until schemes are devised for the absorption of the unemployed in works at standard rates of pay, was the principal of several decisions concerning unemployment reached at the annual conference of the Municipal Association to-day. The subject was keenly debated.. During the debate it was mentioned that the cost of giving increased pay of 10s a week would be £300,000 a year. It was also stated, and the statement was generally endorsed, that the Unemployment Board should produce a statement of its expenditure, showing exactly how all its great income was used. The resolutions carried were as ioi“Tliat the executive be instructed to wo into the whole question of improving the conditions of the unemployed by a scheme or schemes for providing work at standard rates of pay, the scheme to be financed partly by local authorities and partly by the Unemployment Board or in any othei manner conceived, and that in the meantime the Unemployment Board be asked to increase the wages of all grades of rvorkers by 10s a week.’ “That the Minister of Internal Affairs be urged to allocate the . proceeds of art unions during the, winter months to the relief of distress. “That this conference recommends to the Government that unemployed men who are ill should, on production of the medical certificates, he supported from the unemployment funds.” A remit suggesting that the Government be again urged to abolish the No. 5 Scheme and to divert the money allocated for it to productiye avenues ensuring full employment at standard rates of pay was referred to the executive under the terms of a motron previously carried.