WORK FOR UNEMPLOYED

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 16, 20 January 1931, Page 9

WORK FOR UNEMPLOYED

INSTEAD OF SUSTENANCE.

AUCKLAND PROPOSALS

REPAIRS AND ALTERATIONS

A definite scheme to obviate the payment of sustenance allowances will bo considered by"*the Auckland Unemployment Committee at its-meeting to-mor-row morning. It is stated that members of the committee are favourably disposed towards the proposal,, which, if approved after the details have been discussed, will be forwarded to. the Unemployment Board for official endorsement. The proposal is'for the payment of asubsidy to members of. skilled trades, especially married men. It is pointed out that in the absence of work bc>njr found for these- men by the Unemployment Board, sustenance money woiik have to be paid, which for a mari'if'i man with no family would cost approximately '£2 per week per man. The board would thus have to pay £2000 per week in sustenance in the case of 1000 tradesmen. ■Outline of Scheme.

Summarised the scheme as drafvtl provides for the following:—'"Some 1000 persons could be found in Auckland who would be willing to spend £40 ill wages, to make alterations or, repairs to existing houses and shops if the board would subsidise on wages only up to 2") per cent. Thus if a job weve to cost £40 in wages, the owner would get the job done for £30, which would be an incentive to have the job done. This would be infinitely better than a general reduction in wages, as the owners would get the idea that they were getting something for nothing. £40 would employ eight men for one week at award rates of wages at a cost to the board of £10. Sustenance payments to the same men would <:o-;t £10.. The men would receive £."> ??r week and bo working, which woull bo infinitely better than £2 per week wUI) sustenance and no work. This wonV-l mean that' more m'ouey would be mit into circulation to help others in shop#, offices and warehouses, the owners of which Wouiu probably have to put on more men. Indirectly it would niw.n extra hands right, back to the bush from which the tipiber would come for the building.

'■If 1000 people could be found who would be willing to make alterations : uWdcr this scheme to the extent of /-10 in wages it would mean, taking a snifJl example, tliat 1000 men would be employed for eight 'Weeks at £5 per week, total £40,000. Sustenance payments to the same men for eight weeks in lion of work would cost £10,000. The subsidy to the same men under the scheme would amount to £8000, so that tbo economic gain to New Zealand would he £32,000, and the economic gain to the board £8000.

Subsidy to 25 Per Cent, "ft is suggested that this scheme apply only to alterations or repairs to existing premises on any scale, the bicger the better. Employers would benp.iit as they would get more jobs, and there would be the same margin o? profit on each job as.before; the employer, or, if a private person,,: to pay the men in full weekly or on .completion" of job, and employers to draw the subsidy from the. board on completion of the job, to obviate making many small paylnnets to the workers,, thus doing away with much clerical Work in. Government Departments. The .subsidy would be paid only up to 25 ] per cent oc award rates of workers concerned, all labour to be dra.wn from die Government Labour Bureau, either, by nomination or otherwise. . "■

"This scheme Avould involve a good many labourers making fresh footpaths, clearing up gardens and excavations. Owners would require more furniture where alterations were made, therefore more work in the furniture trades. This scheme ■would be best worked if married men only were employed on it; it is uneconomic to take married men out into the country to work, wlißre they have, of necessity, to keep two homes. The single men would be better in the country. There are so many men who are unable, either through a<xe, health, or family reasons, to take the heavy Public Works jobs, and, therefore, must' of necessity stay in the towns and starve, although they would be first-plass men at their respective trades. Perhaps a few prices regarding wages. in building a house might be helpful. These arc, approximately, tlio prices paid to artisans for building an ordinary four rooms and kitchenette dwelling, built in wood:—Carpenters £100, bricklayers £5, electricians fB, painters and paperhangers £15, plumber £10, fibrous plasterers £5; drainer £3; total £140. • :