PUBLIC WORKS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 293, 24 September 1935, Page 3

PUBLIC WORKS

EMPLOYMENT FOR 8000 MEN.

HIGHER STANDARD RATE OF PAY IMMEDIATE PROGRAMME. (Pei- Press Association.) WANGANUI, September 23. “Because of the acuteness of the problem of unemployment, the Government has had! a committee working for some time on the planning of public works, both from the long-range point of view and) from the viewpoint of urgency,” said the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates (Minister for Finance) at the jubilee dinner of the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce to-night. “The result is. that the Government has a programme of work, in addition to those works already mentioned in the Budget, and which wofild he carried out in any case. This programme has been drawn up with special regard to—(1) The occupation of those unemployed; (2) The severity of unemployment m particular districts; ( : 3) The amount of employment which a given amount of loan expenditure will provide.” Mr Coates said that the tendency had been for the unemployed! to congregate in the centres, and if there had been an incentive in that direction steps had been taken to make the incentive operate in the opposite way, and the object would be to get men on to employment which was remunerative in type and nature. Increase in Wages. The new works would include roads, drainage, irrigation, reclamation, the salvage of deteriorated lands, and various ether avenues of employment, including building. “This is the immediate programme, and! has been approved by the Cabinet and will be put in hand at once,” said Mi' Coates. “The long-range programme will be so drawn up that it will fit in as far as possible with the economic conditions of the country, and 1 the changes in public works undertaken will be by gradual transition so as not unduly to upset the position in the labour maiket. The Cabinet has also approved an increase in the standard rate of pay on public works to 12s a day for maiiied men in camps, and 9s for single men.”

The Minister stated that experience had shown that it was difficult to induce men on sustenance to leave thenhomes for remunerative work, and the proposed increase in wages was to be an additional incentive to them to work in the country. He realised that when that happened the farmer would feel that he was being deprived of the means of obtaining labour, as he had done in the past, but it was intended to provide for him assistance in some form or another whereby he would be able to retain his labour.

Absorption of Men. “During the. depression we have done our level best to assist the farmer, and all have stood up to it like men and women. The worses offering have not been attractive, but people have faced the position squarely. It is the expectation of the Government that these measures will lead to a substantial improvement in the unemployment situation, and about 8000 men will be absorbed immediately.” Mr Coates added that the Government had other far-reaching policy measures being drafted. A comprehensive housing scheme was well undei way, and would bo brought down this session. It would require the local authority to make a housing survey to be used as the basis of the detailed programme. In addition, there was a universal superannuation and health insurance scheme on a contributory basis which was under consideration. The report of the committee working on this matter would be published shortly.