NO SUSTENANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 262, 4 November 1932, Page 3

NO SUSTENANCE.

WHEN MEN REFUSE WORK. LEGISLATION EXPLAINED. CASE IN POVERTY BAY. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) GISBORNE, this day. The attitude of the "Unemployment Board regarding the provision of relief work for men whose unemployment is due to refusal to accept work was explained in a letter to the Gisborne committee, which was called upon to deal with a case of an unusual nature under the board's ruling.

The board's letter draws attention to the principle enunciated in section 20 of the Act, which states that no sustenance is to be paid to any man in respect to unemployment which is due to refusal to accept any employment offered him. "This section," the letter adds, "refers not only to the refusal of suitable offers made by the board, but also to the refusal of suitable offers made by private employers, including farmers. Will you therefore please strike off the register any single or married man who is offered suitable private work in town or Country, who refuses to accept same and is unable to offer adequate reasons for such refusal." Consideration of this letter evoked mention of tiie case of a man at the lreczing works, who had bean refused registration when h« fell out of employment. This man, a butcher by trade, had been working at the freezing works under the No. 10 scheme, but had been ordered to take over the job of killing stock and refused on account of the dispute between the union and employers. His case was dismissed. Had he taken on butchering work, said Mr. C. E. Bickford, he would have seriously damaged his industrial character, and in the circumstances he contended that the man was entitled to be enrolled as unemployed. In reply to a question, Mr. Bickford, who is also the union secretary, said it wi.uld not have been po isiblo for the union to give this man permission to accept engagement and thus protect his position. The rates of pay offered to the man were those which submitted' by the employers, but rejected' by the union. Ensuing discussion showed that members generally were of opinion that the man should be reinstated, and a resolution to this effect was carried unanimously.

POSITION AT THAMES. STILL MANY UNEMPLOYED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) THAMES, this day. At a meeting of the Tliames unemployment committee the borough foreman reported that 88 men were engaged on relief work in the borough area. The committee decided that the improvement of the Karaka Creek Road should be undertaken after the completion of the Tararu Creek work. The certifying officer reported having terminated three contracts for breaches of agreement under 4A scheme, while two other contracts were under review. Two applications were approved. It was stated that a reduction of the amount allocated for relief would affect local unemployed as the, number on relief showed no sign of diminishing as was expected at this time of year.