NO. 5 SCHEME.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 280, 26 November 1931, Page 7

NO. 5 SCHEME.

RATIONING PROPOSALS,

MORE MEN, LESS HOURS

MEMORANDUM TO LOCAL BODIES,

The officer in charge of the Auckland office of the Department of Labour (Mr. W. Slaughter) has forwarded a memorandum to local bodies and school committees in respect to No. 5 scheme of rationing work for unemployed men.

"The sum allocated to Auckland," says Mr. Slaughter, "is not sufficient to provide work under the scheme for all men eligible, and a rationing scheme was put into operation on October 31, with the object of giving men who had not worked for considerable periods, sufficient relief to provide for their immediate necessities. The standing down of the men for three weeks has creatcd dissatisfaction. discontent, and in many cases actual hardship. The Department has decided to withdraw as from Saturday, December the rationing of selected men for three weeks, but some general rationing scheme must be maintained.

"The allocation to Auckland is approximately four-fifths of the total sum required to give full relief to each man eligible. All authorities employing labour under this scheme are requested to regard their allocations as representing four-fifths of the sum they require, and ration the men accordingly as from Monday, December 7. This will enable more men to be taken on, and the Department earnestly appeals to all authorities to engage extra labour prior to the Christmas period.

"The work must be rationed so that inen entitled to four days will reccirc not more than 20 hours; three days, not more than 19 hours; and two davs, not more than 12 hours. Refunds will bo made on this basis only. In the event of a higher grant to Auckland, the necessary adjustments will be made."